Abstract

Objectives Azorella compacta Phil. (A. compacta) is a shrub that grows in the Andean Altiplano of Bolivia, Chile and Peru, consumed by local communities as traditional medicine for several maladies. This includes the use of A. compacta infusions for diabetes and inflammatory diseases. A. compacta is abundant in diterpenoids, two of which have been previously shown hypoglycaemic effects in rats, but its effect on liver function has not been investigated. Methods A. compacta extracts were prepared using petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol. These extracts were enriched in the diterpenoids mulinic acid, azorellanol and mulin-11,13-diene. Mice previously treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) received one of the extracts or vehicle in drinking water for two weeks. The impact of these treatments on hepatic histopathologic and biochemical parameters was evaluated. Key findings A. compacta extracts did not reduce hyperglycaemia or body weight in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, A. compacta extracts increased plasma levels of hepatic transaminases AST and ALT, reduced plasma albumin and increased bilirubin. A. compacta extracts did not ameliorate the histopathological liver alterations observed in HFD-fed mice, such as steatosis necrosis and inflammation. Conclusions These results suggest that organic A. compacta extracts may exacerbate hepatic damage in patients with metabolic diseases.