Journal of Nutraceuticals and Health

ABSTRACT

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an excessive fat accumulation in the liver with high oxidative stress and inflammation and initiation of cirrhosis. Obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome might be associated with fatty liver which if not well controlled could be progressed to NASH. Excessive consumption of high fructose and saturated fats in the daily diet together with a sedentary lifestyle could lead to a fatty liver with subsequent possibility of NASH development [1,2]. NASH has been accused for developing cardiovascular disease while NASH itself might progress to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end to liver failure [3]. Therefore, mitigating NASH is essential to prevent the aforementioned more serious conditions. So far, no efficient remedy is present for subsiding NASH. In addition, colonic dysbiosis might be an important factor in developing NASH. Research published in the Journal of Oleo Science entitled “Basil essential oil and its nano-emulsion mitigate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rat model with special reference to gut microbiota” discussed the potential prevention of NASH by basil essential oil (BO) and its nano-emulsion form (BNO) in addition to the interrelation of microbiota in the incidence and prevention of NASH [4]. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS and showed to contain 23 volatile compounds, from which the major component was linalool followed by eucalyptol, eugenol and α-bergamotene. Different nano-formulations were prepared from BO by applying the low-energy spontaneous emulsification technique. 

KEYWORDS

1. Steatohepatitis
2. Nano-essential oil
3. Nutraceuticals
4. Microbiota
5. Biomarkers