Vitex agnus-castus improves liver lipid metabolism and reverses nonalcoholic fat liver disease

Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is a plant that has recently been used to treat the symptoms of menopause, by its actions on the central nervous system. However, little is known about its actions on disturbances in lipid metabolism and nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD), frequently associated with menopause.

In the liver, estrogen deficiency results in the accumulation of triacylglycerols (TG) in the cytosol of hepatocytes, a characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The fatty acid accumulation in the liver is also known to be associated with oxidative cell damage.

Hydroalcoholic, dried fruit extract of Vitex agnus-castus L. was acquired from GAMMA Trade, Import & Export Ltd.
Rats were treated with crude extract (CE) and a butanolic fraction of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) (ButF) and displayed the beneficial effects of a reduction in the adiposity index and a complete reversion of NAFLD. NAFLD reversion was accompanied by a general improvement in the liver redox status. The activities of some antioxidant enzymes were restored and the mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production was significantly reduced in animals treated with CE and the ButF.
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