A Comparative Effect of Different Herbal Products on Lipid Metabolism and Hepatic Tissue: An Experimental Study on a...

Background Dysregulation of lipid metabolism can lead to conditions such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and hepatic steatosis. A high-fat diet (HFD) results in dysregulation of lipid metabolism and may primarily convert liver tissue to develop inflammation and fibrosis. Slimming pills, Japanese powder tea, and Shahana tea are common green teas that commercials have used for hyperlipidemia, obesity, and liver protection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these three teas on dyslipidemia and liver in a rat model. Method This is an experimental study carried out on 20 adult male albino rats of about 240 g and 12 weeks old. The rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1: fed the standard pellet diet for four weeks; Group 2: fed with the HFD for four weeks; Group 3: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received Shahana tea (1.5  g/kg body weight (BW)); Group 4: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received Japanese powder tea (1.5  g/kg BW); and Group 5: fed with the HFD for the first four weeks and received slimming pill (0.6  g/kg BW). Blood samples were collected to measure the lipid profile in the rats. The rats were scarified under anesthesia, and liver tissue was collected for histopathological testing. Result HFD could significantly induce dyslipidemia and liver pathological disorders in model rats. Slimming pills could significantly improve total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to Japanese powder tea and Shahana tea. In comparison to the Shahana tea, Japanese powder tea had a significant outcome on LDL but not on other lipid profiles. Slimming pills and Shahana tea could preserve the normal histological features of the liver. The central vein (CV) and sinusoidal (SN) Kupffer cells significantly remained normal compared to model rats. Conclusion Slimming pills and Shahana tea have significant positive effects on lipid metabolism regulation, dyslipidemia, and preserving the liver from injury and fat accumulation. The effects of the two products are mostly concerned with their main components, such as L-carnitine and Cassia angustifolia.