Research Article Details
Article ID: | A25683 |
PMID: | 21549113 |
Source: | Eur J Pharmacol |
Title: | Pentoxifylline and melatonin in combination with pioglitazone ameliorate experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. |
Abstract: | Insulin resistance, oxidative stress and cytokine imbalance are key pathophysiological mechanisms in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of treatment with the insulin sensitizer, pioglitazone, the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor, pentoxifylline, and the antioxidant, melatonin and their combinations in rats with NAFLD. Rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks to induce NAFLD. For an additional eight weeks, rats were fed the HFD along with pioglitazone, pentoxifylline, melatonin alone or in combination. Liver index and insulin resistance index were calculated. Serum liver enzyme activities, total cholesterol, triglycerides and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined. Tissue triglycerides, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were measured and liver injury was evaluated by histopathological examination. HFD induced severe hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, liver index, insulin resistance index, activities of liver enzymes and serum level of total cholesterol, triglycerides and TNF-α were elevated. This was coupled with an increase in tissue triglycerides, malondialdehyde and depletion of reduced glutathione. Pioglitazone, pentoxifylline and melatonin, alone or in combination; reduced the insulin resistance index, activities of liver enzymes, hepatic malondialdehyde and increased hepatic reduced glutathione level. Pentoxifylline led to a decrease in serum TNF-α level, however, pioglitazone and melatonin reduced serum total cholesterol and triglycerides. In conclusion, data in this study indicate that pentoxifylline and melatonin can be used as promising adjuvant therapies to pioglitazone in the clinical management of NAFLD. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.04.049 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D266 | Pentoxifylline | Chemical drug | DB00806 | ADORA2A antagonist; ADORA1 antagonist; PDE4A inhibitor; PDE3B inhibitor; PDE4B inhibitor; PDE5A inhibitor; PDE8A inhibitor; PDE4C inhibitor; PDE11A inhibitor; PDE7A inhibitor; PDE7B inhibitor; PDE4D inhibitor; PDE3A inhibitor | Anti-inflammatory; Cardiovascular drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D366 | Thiazolidinediones | Chemical drug | DB11898 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D275 | Pioglitazone | Chemical drug | DB01132 | PPARG agonist | Improve insulin resistance | Advanced in clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D222 | Melatonin | Chemical drug | DB01065 | MPO inhibitor; EPX inhibitor; CALR; ASMT | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D158 | Glutathione | Chemical drug | DB00143 | MGST3; HPGDS; GSTM2; GSTM5; GPX7 cofactor; MGST2; GSS; GSTM1; GSTK1; GSTM3; GSTM4; GPX1 cofactor; GPX2 cofactor; GPX3 cofactor | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |