Effect of Silymarin and Quercetin in a Miniaturized Scaffold in Wistar Rats against Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Silymarin and quercetin (SQ) are known antioxidants with
substantial free radical scavenging activities. The efficacy of SQ activity is
restricted due to poor absorption and availability. This study aims to increase the
hepatoprotective activity of SQ by a newer delivery technique. We have optimized
a technique, miniaturized scaffold (MS), for the delivery of active compounds of
SQ. SQ molecules were embedded in MS and characterized by morphology,
particle size, miniaturization efficiency, and functional group. Further, the
hepatoprotective effects of MSQ were investigated through in vitro and in vivo
methods. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and
subsequently, hepatotoxic rats were treated with the miniaturized scaffold of SQ
(MSQ) for 8 weeks. The body weight were significantly high in groups fed with
MSQ. A substantial decrease in triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density
lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities
were observed in rats treated with MSQ. Similarly, rats treated with MSQ
exhibited lower lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes. The experiments clearly demonstrated the efficacy of MSQ as a superior
hepatoprotective agent against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simulated through toxicity induced by CCl4.