Background and Objective: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is now considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Since thymoquinone possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of thymoquinone on liver enzyme levels, lipid profile, and the expression of genes involved in inflammatory and antioxidant pathways in an animal model of MAFLD.
Methods: In this interventional-experimental animal study, 18 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 (control, experimental 1, and experimental 2). All except the healthy control group were placed on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Experimental group 2 received oral thymoquinone (10 mg/kg) for 35 days. Experimental group 1 received no treatment. At the end of the experiment, tissue and serum samples were collected for biochemical analyses (ALT, AST, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL) using colorimetric methods, assessment of NRF2, VCAM, ICAM, and NF-κB gene expression by RT-PCR, and histopathological studies.
Findings: The results showed that thymoquinone treatment significantly reduced ALT (94.5±10.85) and AST (202.16±32.12) levels compared to the MAFLD group (p<0.001). Thymoquinone reduced cholesterol (257±50.37) (p<0.003), triglycerides (90.16±12.73) (p<0.007), and LDL (51.26±15.19) (p<0.001) levels, and increased HDL (48.83±6.5) (p<0.001) levels. A significant decrease in the expression of VCAM (1.02±0.49) (p<0.001), ICAM (0.89±0.16) (p<0.001), and NF-κB (1.44±0.44) (p=0.003) genes, and a significant increase in NRF2 (0.99±0.22) (p<0.001) gene expression were observed after thymoquinone treatment compared to the MAFLD group. Histological examinations showed significant improvement in tissue damage.
Conclusion: Thymoquinone may play a protective role in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by improving the lipid profile and liver enzymes.