Quercetin ameliorates insulin sensitivity and liver steatosis partly by increasing adiponectin expression in ob/ob mice

The effects of quercetin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an obese mouse model were investigated. Five-week-old ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 0.08% quercetin, whereas ob/+ mice were provided the AIN-93G diet for 10 weeks. Quercetin significantly decreased serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and free fatty acid (FFA) levels, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values, compared with the ob/ob control group. Quercetin lowered hepatic total lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels, and the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activities, compared with the ob/ob control group. Quercetin increased adiponectin protein expression in epididymal adipose tissue and serum adiponectin levels, and decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), compared with the ob/ob control group. These results indicate that quercetin could exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by overexpression of adiponectin and reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels in ob/ob mice.