Hepatoprotective Effect of Solanum Lycopersicum Extract Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

A high-fat diet (HFD) can trigger liver disease, one of which is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to examine the effect of Solanum lycopersicum extract on liver protection, namely macroscopic and microscopic aspects and liver weight in high-fat diet model rats.

This true experimental study used male Wistar rats divided into a normal (control) group, HFD group and HFD group with S. lycopersicum extract (HFD-SL). This study was conducted from May to November 2024 at the Faculty of Dentistry Laboratory Universitas Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia. After the intervention, the weight of the rats' livers were measured and evaluated macroscopically. Histopathological examination was performed on liver tissue using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Steatotic and hepatocytes ballooning were analysed using scoring system.

A total of 21 rats were included in this study and divided equally into 3 groups. This study revealed that liver weight in the HFD group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.004). The macroscopic findings of the liver in the HFD-SL group appeared red and the organ surface was smoother and nodules were reduced compared to the HFD group. The histopathology results of the liver in the HFD-SL group showed lower steatotic score (P = 0.058) and a reduced hepatocytes ballooning score (P = 0.018) compared to the HFD group.

S. lycopersicum has the potential to act as a liver protector; this occurs because the bioactive compounds in tomatoes can reduce fat accumulation and trigger hepatocyte regeneration.