Resveratrol attenuates hepatic complications associated with insulin resistance: Implications on hepatic HAIR, LAIR, cell energy and DNA fragmentation

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a chronic condition, often related to obesity, improper diet, insulin resistance (IR); and can lead to significant health complications. Resveratrol (RSV) is a naturally occurring polyphenol recently postulated to be a powerful antioxidant, hepatoprotective and a potential anti-hyperglycemic. Our research aimed to investigate some possible mechanisms of action that may contribute to the efficacy of RSV to reverse the IR and hepatic complications associated with MetS experimentally induced in rats using high fat-high fructose (HFHF) diet model. Results revealed that RSV treatment (40 mg/kg p.o) for ten days protected against IR and hepatic insult as demonstrated by reduction in HOMA-IR, hepatic HAIR and LAIR expression, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), TNF-α levels, oxidative and nitrosative stresses, serum AST and ALT. Furthermore; increasing serum albumin and total protein levels and improving hepatic tissue; cell energy status by increasing adenylate energy charge (AEC) and reducing AMP/ATP ratio and preserving hepatic tissue cellular integrity represented by lowering 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG); the results were comparable to those of metformin. As a conclusion; using RSV could be valuable in treatment of hepatic complications associated with MetS and its efficacy probably involves enhancement of cell energy as well as conservation of cellular integrity.