Effect of pioglitazone, quercetin, and hydroxy citric acid on vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA (VEGF mRNA) expression in experimentally induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Background/aim: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with various ischemic and inflammatory diseases, and plays an important role in the development of liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, the comparative effect of pioglitazone, quercetin, and hydroxy citric acid on VEGF mRNA in experimentally induced NASH was investigated. Materials and methods: The experimental protocol consisted of five groups: control, NASH, NASH + pioglitazone, NASH + quercetin, and NASH + hydroxy citric acid. The VEGF mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for all experimental groups, and the levels of VEGF mRNA were quantitatively measured by densitometry. Results: A higher expression of VEGF mRNA was found in the hepatic cells of rats with experimentally induced NASH compared to the control group. A very mild increase in VEGF mRNA expression was observed in the rats treated with quercetin. In contrast, a mild increase in the expression of VEGF mRNA was observed in the rats treated with pioglitazone and hydroxy citric acid. Conclusion: Quercetin exhibited an effective inhibition of VEGF mRNA expression, while a lower inhibition of the VEGF mRNA level was observed in the hydroxy citric acid- and the pioglitazone-treated rats.