Fig. 3

Effects of flavonoids on HF-induced effects on serum lipids, liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation. Serum lipid fractions are shown as ratio of HF + flavonoid or NF over the average value of the HF control (a). Liver weight at the end of the dietary intervention of 12 weeks (b). Quantification of total area of lipids per picture (c) and mean lipid droplet number per picture (d) in liver. Representative pictures of stained hepatic lipids by Oil red O (e). Hepatic Cyp2b9 expression (f). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Asterisk indicates a significant difference of HF + flavonoid to HF; hash indicates a significant difference of HF to NF (p < 0.05); ^## p < 0.01. PUFA, poly unsaturated fatty acids; MUFA, mono unsaturated fatty acids; FA, fatty acids; TG, triglycerides; PGLY, phosphoglycerides; PC, phosphatidylcholine; EC, esterified cholesterol; TC, total cholesterol; NF, normal-fat diet; HF, high-fat diet; HF + Q, HF supplemented with quercetin HF + Q; hesperetin, HF + H; epicatechin, HF + E; apigenin, HF + Ap; anthocyanins, HF + An