Abstract: AIM: To explore the therapeutic effect of rhein in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and its possible mechanism. METHODS: 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups after fed with normal diet for 7 days:Control group(n=8), fed with normal diet; Model group(n=8), fed with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (normal diet plus 10% lard and 2% cholesterol);Intervention group(n=8), rhein was added orally after 12 weeks fed with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. All the rats were executed after 20 weeks.Body mass, liverweight, transaminase level, blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesteral, insulin level and liver histology were detected.Serum insulin level was measured by radio-immunity technique.The malonaldehyde and glutathione peroxidase activity in live constitution homogenate were measured quantitively. RESULTS: After 20 weeks, the rats in Model group developed lipid metabolic disorder and insulin resistance.The levels of ALT and AST in Model group were higher than those in Control group.Livers presented severe hepatocyte steatosis and the sporadic inflammatory cell infiltration or focal necrosis.There was no significant difference in biochemical index between Intervention group and Control group.Lipid metabolic disorder and insulin resistance of Intervention group were improved, along with the status of hepatocyte steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, compared with those in Model group. CONCLUSION: There are significant insulin resistance and lipid metabolic disorder in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model.Rhein can prevent the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Key words: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, rhein, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism disorder