Fig. 1.

Experimental protocol of animal experiment. In the Control group, Wistar rats were fed with standard rat chow alone for 10 weeks. The CDHF group received CDHF diet alone for 16 weeks. The NASH groups were added with injections of sodium nitrite, 50 mg/kg/day i.p., for the subsequent 6 weeks at the 10th week of continuous CDHF diets. In the NASH + 2SP and NASH + 6SP groups, spirulina, 2 g or 6 g/kg/day, was given p.o. concurrently during the period of CDHF diet and nitrite injection. In the NASH + 0.4PC and NASH + 1.2PC, the PC administration of 0.4 g or 1.2 g/kg/day was performed concurrently during the period of CDHF diet and nitrite injection.