High dose of Garcinia cambogia is effective in suppressing fat accumulation in developing male Zucker obese rats, but highly toxic to the testis

Hydroxycitric acid and capsaicin combination alleviates obesity-induced testicular apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation

Recent research in rodents suggests that oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the testes caused by high-fat diets (HFD) are a cause of male infertility. To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the combination of hydroxycitric acid and capsaicin (HCC) against male reproductive disorders, we developed an HFD-induced obese rat model. Rats received HFD supplementation for 21 weeks, which induced obesity. From week 16, HCC (100 mg/kg body weight) was administered to investigate its potential to treat testicular toxicity. According to the results of the current study, treatment of obese rats with HCC improved their sperm quality, increased the production of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone and significantly increased the activities of steroidogenic enzymes and corresponding mRNA levels. In addition, HCC decreased lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in both spermatozoa and testes while increasing the expression of mRNA for the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the testes, which in turn reduced oxidative stress in the testes. Moreover, after HCC treatment, testicular tissues showed a remarkable decrease in mRNA levels responsible for inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB) and apoptosis (Bax and Bcl-2). Our results suggest that HCC may alleviate obesity-induced male reproductive dysfunction by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the testes of HFD-induced obese male rats.

Clinically Effective Molecules of Natural Origin for Obesity Prevention or Treatment

The prevalence and incidence of obesity and the comorbidities linked to it are increasing worldwide. Current therapies for obesity and associated pathologies have proven to cause a broad number of adverse effects, and often, they are overpriced or not affordable for all patients. Among the alternatives currently available, natural bioactive compounds stand out. These are frequently contained in pharmaceutical presentations, nutraceutical products, supplements, or functional foods. The clinical evidence for these molecules is increasingly solid, among which epigallocatechin-3-gallate, ellagic acid, resveratrol, berberine, anthocyanins, probiotics, carotenoids, curcumin, silymarin, hydroxy citric acid, and α-lipoic acid stand out. The molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of these molecules have been shown to interact with the endocrine, nervous, and gastroenteric systems. They can regulate the expression of multiple genes and proteins involved in starvation-satiety processes, activate the brown adipose tissue, decrease lipogenesis and inflammation, increase lipolysis, and improve insulin sensitivity. This review provides a comprehensive view of nature-based therapeutic options to address the increasing prevalence of obesity. It offers a valuable perspective for future research and subsequent clinical practice, addressing everything from the molecular, genetic, and physiological bases to the clinical study of bioactive compounds.

Anti-Obesity Drug Delivery Systems: Recent Progress and Challenges

Obesity has reached an epidemic proportion in the last thirty years, and it is recognized as a major health issue in modern society now with the possibility of serious social and economic consequences. By the year 2030, nearly 60% of the global population may be obese or overweight, which emphasizes a need for novel obesity treatments. Various traditional approaches, such as pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery, have been utilized in clinical settings to treat obesity. However, these methods frequently show the possibility of side effects while remaining ineffective. There is, therefore, an urgent need for alternative obesity treatments with improved efficacy and specificity. Polymeric materials and chemical strategies are employed in emerging drug delivery systems (DDSs) to enhance therapy effectiveness and specificity by stabilizing and controlling the release of active molecules such as natural ingredients. Designing DDSs is currently a top priority research objective with an eye towards creating obesity treatment approaches. In reality, the most recent trends in the literature demonstrate that there are not enough in-depth reviews that emphasize the current knowledge based on the creation and design of DDSs for obesity treatment. It is also observed in the existing literature that a complex interplay of different physical and chemical parameters must be considered carefully to determine the effectiveness of the DDSs, including microneedles, for obesity treatment. Additionally, it is observed that these properties depend on how the DDS is synthesized. Although many studies are at the animal-study stage, the use of more advanced DDS techniques would significantly enhance the development of safe and efficient treatment approaches for obese people in the future. Considering these, this review provides an overview of the current anti-obesity treatment approaches as well as the conventional anti-obesity therapeutics. The article aims to conduct an in-depth discussion on the current trends in obesity treatment approaches. Filling in this knowledge gap will lead to a greater understanding of the safest ways to manage obesity.

Immature Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Ethanol Extract Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Modulating Lipid Metabolism

In this study, immature persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) ethanol extract was administered to an obese animal model fed a high-fat diet to measure weight change, adipose tissue weight, serum lipid level, and expression level of adipose-related genes to evaluate its efficacy. Administration of D. kaki ethanol extract (DKE) (100 and 500 mg/kg/d) decreased the body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and serum triglyceride levels in mice fed a high-fat diet. Furthermore, it improved the leptin and adiponectin levels in the blood as well as gene expression in the liver. It also inhibited the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, inhibiting the production of triglyceride biosynthetic enzyme fatty acid synthesis and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and decreased the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins that induce adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, these data suggest that DKE exerts beneficial effects on high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Garcinia gummi-gutta: Phytochemicals and pharmacological applications

Garcinia gummi-gutta, also known as Garcinia cambogia, is a member of the Guttiferae family. Garcinia is a polygamous genus consisting 200 species of trees and shrubs. It is found in different zones of the planet including Asia's tropical regions. In India alone, around 30 species have been discovered. They are widely used as a flavoring agent to garnish fish curry in southern India, particularly in Kerala and Karnataka. The fruit rind of G. gummi-gutta has traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, and ulcers. South Indian people have been utilizing it traditionally as evidenced by its ethnobotanical properties. In vivo and in vitro effects of the crude fruit extract showed anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anthelmintic, anti-microbial, and antioxidant activities. G. gummi-gutta fruit rind is medicinally significant and is frequently used in ayurvedic and traditional medicine for many diseases. Various secondary metabolites such as organic acids-hydroxycitric acid (HCA), flavonoids, terpenes, polysaccharides and polyisoprenylated benzophenones-garcinol, xanthochymol, guttiferone, benzophenone, xanthone, biflavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and saponins isolated from the G. gummi-gutta have diverse pharmacological activities. This review provides a summary of G. gummi-gutta, including its biological activities, phytochemistry, and ethnobotanical applications.

Identification of Secondary Metabolites of Interest in Pleurotus djamor Using Agave tequilana Bagasse

Agro-industrial residues represent more than 60% of organic wastes worldwide, which could be used to generate other by-products or to be incorporated into other production chains. For example, bagasse is a waste from the tequila industry in Mexico that could be implemented for mushroom cultivation. Additionally, the substrate influences the growth, development, and production of secondary metabolites of fungi. This work presents a comparative experiment that studies the metabolite production in Pleurotus djamor mushrooms on agave bagasse and barley straw (traditional substrate). The biological efficiency (BE), yield, phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, tannins, and the identification of low molecular weight metabolites were evaluated. Five treatments were proposed according to the following mixtures of agave bagasse: barley straw: T1 (1:0), T2 (3:1), T3 (1:1), T4 (1:3), and T5 (0:1). T2 had the highest yield (13.39 ± 3.23%), BE (56.7 ± 13.71%), and flavonoids (44.25 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g); T3 obtained the highest phenol content (230.27 mg GAE/g); and T1 the highest tannins content (0.23 mg (+) catechin equivalent (CE)/g). Finally, T1 and T5 are the ones that present the greatest number of primary metabolites, including hydroxycitric acid, 2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-mannose, paromomycin, palmitic acid, pyrrole, mannitol, and DL arabinose, while in T2, T3, and T4 only two chemical compounds were found present (palmitic acid and pyrrole in T2, silicic acid and pyrrole in T3 and 2-deoxy-D-galactose and quinoline in T4). The cultivation substrate influences the concentration of bioactive molecules in the fruiting bodies of P. djamor. Additionally, P. djamor's degradation of agave bagasse residue generates a potential application for agro-industrial residue management at a low cost.

Quercetin Ameliorates Testicular Damage in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats through Its Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Properties

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin (QUE) on the testicular architecture as well as markers of oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic profile of male gonads in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the absence or presence of obesity. QUE was administered orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks. Morphometric analysis revealed that QUE treatment led to an improvement in testicular appearance, particularly in the case of Obese ZDF rats. Furthermore, a significant stabilization of the antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase and catalase activity (p < 0.01), with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation (p < 0.05) were observed in Obese ZDF animals exposed to QUE. Our data also indicate a significant decline in the levels of interleukin (IL)-1 (p < 0.05), IL-6 (p < 0.01) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (p < 0.001) following QUE supplementation to Obese ZDF rats in comparison with their respective control. Finally, a significant down-regulation of the pro-apoptotic BAX protein (p < 0.0001) was observed in Obese ZDF rats administered with QUE, while a significant Bcl-2 protein overexpression (p < 0.0001) was recorded in Lean ZDF animals when compared to their untreated control. As such, our results suggest that QUE is a potentially beneficial agent to reduce testicular damage in ZDF rats with Type 2 diabetes mellitus by decreasing oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and excessive cell loss through apoptosis.

Characterization of the structural, oxidative, and immunological features of testis tissue from Zucker diabetic fatty rats

The purpose of this study was to characterize the testicular profile of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats presenting with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the absence or presence of obesity. To achieve this, testes were collected from 270-day-old male Wistar (n = 15), ZDF nonobese (n = 15), and ZDF obese rats (n = 16). Changes to the testicular structure were quantified morphometrically, while immunocytochemistry was employed to assess caspase-3 activity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, fluctuations of major antioxidant molecules, and the extent of damage to the proteins and lipids were assessed in tissue lysates. Levels of selected interleukins (ILs) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results reveal significant alterations to the testicular structure accompanied by caspase-3 overexpression, particularly in ZDF obese rats. The most notable disruption of the oxidative balance, characterized by ROS overproduction, antioxidant deficiency, protein, and lipid deterioration was recorded in ZDF rats suffering from both DM2 and obesity. Accordingly, the highest concentrations of pro-inflammatory IL-1, IL-6, and IL-18 accompanied by reduced levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 were found in testicular tissue collected from ZDF obese rats. This study highlights the vulnerability of male gonads to pathophysiological changes caused by hyperglycemia, which are further exacerbated by excessive adipose tissue.

Ethno-pharmacological insulin signaling induction of aqueous extract of Syzygium paniculatum fruits in a high-fat diet induced hepatic insulin resistance

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The ethnopharmacological significance of the fruits of Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn (Magenta Cherry) is widely recognized in the Indian traditional medicine system to treat various disorders, such as diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research work investigated the supplementation of the aqueous extract of S. paniculatum fruit (AESPF) on liver function; the molecular effects on the expression of the protein of insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) in high-fat diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance in the rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High-fat diet was used to induce obesity in albino Wistar for 120 days. Biochemical, enzymatic, and histopathological analysis, as well as analysis of hepatic insulin resistance proteins and expression of IRS-1, were performed.

RESULTS

The supplementation of AESPF with a dose of 100 mg/kg bw significantly reduced bodyweight, blood sugar, insulin, lipid profiles, and liver enzymes. Hepatic insulin resistance was improved with a reduced level of IR and IRS-1 to protein levels. HFD alters the sensitivity of hepatocytes to insulin due to the down-regulation of insulin receptor proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

The fruits of S. paniculatum possess biological activities to alleviate all risky effects by regulating hepatic lipogenesis activity that can be used in the progress of medication for HFD-induced hepatic insulin resistance and metabolic disorders.

Risks Associated with the Use of Garcinia as a Nutritional Complement to Lose Weight

Nowadays, obesity is one of the great nutritional problems facing public health. The prevalence of this pathology has increased in a worrying way over recent years, currently reaching epidemic proportions. In this context, nutritional supplements are presented as a therapeutic alternative to which more and more people are turning to. Nutritional supplements to lose weight based on the Garcinia plant, specifically on Garcinia cambogia, are commonly used. The active principle of this plant to which these properties have been attributed, is hydroxycitric acid (HCA). The aim of the present review is to gather reported data concerning the effectiveness of nutritional supplements based on Garcinia extracts on weight loss and their possible negative effects. Contradictory results have been observed regarding the effectiveness of the supplements. While statistically significant weight loss was observed in some studies, no changes were found in others. Regarding safety, although Garcinia supplements have been revealed as safe in the vast majority of the studies carried out in animal models and humans, some cases of hepatotoxicity, serotonin toxicity and mania have been reported. In conclusion, the results suggest that Garcinia-based supplements could be effective in short-term weight loss, although the data are not conclusive. In addition, the safety of the complement should be further studied.

Nuciferine reduced fat deposition by controlling triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in broiler chickens

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary nuciferine affects lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. Four treatment groups were made from 120 1-day-old broiler chickens including the base diet group (normal control [NC], supplemented with 0 mg/kg of nuciferine) and groups treated with 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of dietary nuciferine, which was supplemented for 42 d. The results showed that body weight, average daily weight gain, and absolute and relative fat and liver weight were significantly decreased with nuciferine supplementation. The plasma concentration of triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and free thyroxine was significantly decreased in the nuciferine-supplemented group, but the plasma glucagon concentration was significantly increased. The plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were significantly decreased in the nuciferine group, but plasma and hepatic nonesterified fatty acid concentration, hepatic lipase activity, and hepatic glycogen content were significantly increased. Hepatic histological examination showed that fat cell volume and size in the 100 and 400 mg/kg group were smaller than those in the NC group. The fatty degeneration in the liver was decreased with nuciferine supplementation. The fat cell volume and size were shrunk in the nuciferine group. Dietary nuciferine supplementation significantly decreased the gene expression level of HMGCR, SREBP2, ACC, and SPEBP-1C, but significantly increased the gene expression level of LXR-α, CYP7A1, and CPT-I. The results indicated that nuciferine exhibited strong reduced fat deposition activities and reflected not only by decrease of the concentration of TG and TC but also by reduction in the key gene expression level of HMGCR, SREBP2, ACC, and SPEBP-1c and elevation of the key gene expression level of LXR-α, CYP7A1, and CPT-I. Taken together, our results suggested that the ability of nuciferine on reducing fat deposition in broiler chickens by regulating lipid metabolism was associated with the balance of TG and TC concentration.

Medicinal Potential of Garcinia Species and Their Compounds

Garcinia is a genus of Clusiaceae, distributed throughout tropical Asia, Africa, New Caledonia, Polynesia, and Brazil. Garcinia plants contain a broad range of biologically active metabolites which, in the last few decades, have received considerable attention due to the chemical compositions of their extracts, with compounds which have been shown to have beneficial effects in several diseases. Our work had the objective of reviewing the benefits of five Garcinia species (G. brasiliensis, G. gardneriana, G. pedunculata, G. cambogia, and G. mangstana). These species provide a rich natural source of bioactive compounds with relevant therapeutic properties and anti-inflammatory effects, such as for the treatment of skin disorders, wounds, pain, and infections, having demonstrated antinociceptive, antioxidant, antitumoral, antifungal, anticancer, antihistaminic, antiulcerogenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, vasodilator, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and cardioprotective properties. This demonstrates the relevance of the genus as a rich source of compounds with valuable therapeutic properties, with potential use in the prevention and treatment of nontransmissible chronic diseases.

The vital role of ATP citrate lyase in chronic diseases

Chronic or non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide; they usually result in long-term illnesses and demand long-term care. Despite advances in molecular therapeutics, specific biomarkers and targets for the treatment of these diseases are required. The dysregulation of de novo lipogenesis has been found to play an essential role in cell metabolism and is associated with the development and progression of many chronic diseases; this confirms the link between obesity and various chronic diseases. The main enzyme in this pathway-ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), a lipogenic enzyme-catalyzes the critical reaction linking cellular glucose catabolism and lipogenesis. Increasing lines of evidence suggest that the modulation of ACLY expression correlates with the development and progressions of various chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Recent studies suggest that the inhibition of ACLY activity modulates the glycolysis and lipogenesis processes and stimulates normal physiological functions. This comprehensive review aimed to critically evaluate the role of ACLY in the development and progression of different diseases and the effects of its downregulation in the prevention and treatment of these diseases.

Nutritionist and obesity: brief overview on efficacy, safety, and drug interactions of the main weight-loss dietary supplements

Over the past 20 years the use of dietary supplements as adjuvant therapy for weight loss gained growing favor among consumers and dietician-nutritionists, with the subsequent astounding increase in health costs. Despite the reassuring label of natural remedy for losing weight, dietary supplements contain a wide variety of ingredients on which available information is rather scanty and scientifically incomplete. Currently, there is little evidence that weight-loss supplements offer effective aids to reduce weight and meet criteria for recommended use. Robust, randomized, placebo-controlled studies to provide clear-cut scientific evidence of their efficacy and potential side effects in clinical practice are still lacking. Understanding the evidence for the efficacy, safety, and quality of these supplements among nutritionists and physicians is critical to counsel patients appropriately, especially considering the risk of serious adverse effects and interference with concomitant therapies. Detailed information on the efficacy and safety of the most commonly used weight-loss dietary supplements has been recently published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, in this report the thorny issue that may result from drug interactions with weight-loss dietary supplements has been not sufficiently addressed. The aim of this review was to provide a synthetic, evidence-based report on efficacy and safety of the most commonly used ingredients in dietary supplements marketed for weight loss, particularly focusing on their possible drug interactions.

Potential Anti-obesity and Lipid Lowering Natural Products: A Review

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight - at least 300 million of them clinically obese. In Ayurveda, obesity is called ‘medoroga’. The detailed features and treatments of the disease have been described in an old Ayurvedic text, Charak and Sushrut Samhita. There are some native plants that are commonly used for the treatment of obesity in Ayurveda. Unfortunately, only few medications are available in the market, with side effects and unacceptable efficacy. With the current view that botanical drugs can be developed faster and more cheaply than conventional single entity pharmaceuticals, the review mainly focuses on the rationality of their use with appropriate literature data support.

A clinical and computational study on anti-obesity effects of hydroxycitric acid

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a major active ingredient of Garcinia cambogia extracts, is known to suppress body weight gain and fat synthesis in animals and humans. But the underlying mechanism of HCA action is not fully understood. Clinical study on 100 obese individuals for a period of 3 months was performed followed by a computational study aimed to investigate the effects of HCA treatment on human subjects at anthropometric and plasma lipid profile levels. A detailed hepatic metabolic model was used to incorporate the effect of HCA at the metabolic pathway level. Perturbation analysis of ATP citrate lyase activity in the metabolic pathway was performed to simulate the net effect of HCA. Significant reductions in body weight, triceps, subscapular, and mid axillary measurements as well as in serum triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels were observed following HCA dosage. During the study, half of the subjects experienced a decline in body weight and the remainder experienced an increase in body weight. However, analysis of fat mass with the help of empirical correlations clearly showed significant reduction in the mean values due to HCA dosage in both cases. An extra increase in fat free mass was responsible for offsetting the decrease in fat mass for the subjects who experienced an increase in body weight during the trials. Perturbation analysis showed a net reduction in fatty acid, triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis along with urea cycle fluxes under lipogenetic conditions. Moreover, protein synthesis fluxes increased under these conditions. These results indicate that HCA treatment can reduce body weight gain and fat accumulation in obese subjects along with improving their anthropometric parameters and metabolic state.

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a major active ingredient of Garcinia cambogia extracts, is known to suppress body weight gain and fat synthesis in animals and humans.

Extensive review of popular functional foods and nutraceuticals against obesity and its related complications with a special focus on randomized clinical trials

Weight management (anti-obesity) by popular functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Hispidulin inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through PPARγ pathway

Hispidulin, a natural flavone, has been reported to have diverse pharmacological effects, including antifungal, antioxidant, and antithrombotic properties. However, an anti-adipogenic effect has not yet been reported, which is the focus of the current study. Hispidulin suppressed the differentiation of adipocytes and cellular lipid accumulation without cytotoxicity. Treatment with hispidulin at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 μM reduced intracellular lipids by 88.1%, 81.9%, and 75.8%, respectively. In addition, hispidulin reduced mRNA and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and adiponectin. To our knowledge, these results are the first evidence of the anti-adipogenic effects of hispidulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, indicating that hispidulin has potential as a novel anti-obesity therapeutic.

Selected Physiological Effects of a Garcinia Gummi-Gutta Extract in Rats Fed with Different Hypercaloric Diets

Garcinia gummi-gutta (GGG) rind extract is effective for reducing appetite, body weight and adiposity of obese rodents fed high-fat (HF), high-sugar (HS) or high fat/sugar (HFS)-based diets, but these effects have not been simultaneously evaluated. Thirty obese (~425 g) male Wistar rats were fed for eleven weeks with six hypercaloric diets (4.1 kcal/g; five rats/diet) non-supplemented (HF, HS, HFS), or supplemented (HF+, HS+, HFS+) with GGG extract (5.9%), while rats from the control group (375 g) were fed a normocaloric diet (3.5 kcal/g). Body weight, dietary intake, body fat distribution, and histological and biochemical parameters were recorded. Compared to control rats, non-supplemented and supplemented groups consumed significantly less food (14.3% and 24.6% (−4.3 g/day), respectively) (p < 0.05). Weight loss was greater in the HF+ group (35⁻52 g), which consumed 1.9 times less food than the HS+ or HFS+ fed groups. The HF and HFS groups showed 40% less plasma triacylglycerides and lower glucose levels compared to the HF+. GGG-supplemented diets were associated with lower ketonuria. The HF+ diet was associated with the best anti-adiposity effect (as measured with the dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and Soxhlet methods). The severity of hepatocyte lipidosis was HF > control > HF+, and no signs of toxicity in the testes were observed. The results indicate that GGG is more effective when co-administered with HF diets in obese rats.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Garcinia gummi-gutta by next-generation sequencing and cross-species amplification

Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb. (Clusiaceae) is an endemic, semidomesticated, fruit-yielding tree species distributed in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Various bioactive phytochemicals, such as garcinol, benzophenones and xanthones are isolated from G. gummi-gutta and have shown antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant activities. We sequenced the total genomic DNA using Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform and examined 241,141,804 bp high quality data, assembled into 773,889 contigs. In these contigs, 27,313 simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, among which mononucleotide repeats were predominant (44.98%) followed by dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats. Primers were designed for 9964 microsatellites among which 32 randomly selected SSR primer pairs were standardized for amplification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA in 30 G. gummi-gutta genotypes revealed polymorphic information content (PIC) across all 32 loci ranging from 0.867 to 0.951, with a mean value of 0.917. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.63 and 0.896 to 0.974, respectively. Alleles per locus ranged from 12 to 27. This is the first report on the development of genomic SSR markers in G. gummi-gutta using next-generation sequencing technology. The genomic SSR markers developed in this study will be useful in identification, mapping, diversity and breeding studies.

Toxicity Potential of Nutraceuticals

By the turn of the twenty-first century, the use of nutraceuticals became increasingly popular in both humans and animals due to their easy access, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability with a wide margin of safety. While some nutraceuticals are safe, others have a toxic potential. For a large number of nutraceuticals, no toxicity/safety data are available due to a lack of pharmacological/toxicological studies. The safety of some nutraceuticals can be compromised via contamination with toxic plants, metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs of abuse, etc. Knowledge of pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies appears to play a pivotal role in safety and toxicity assessment of nutraceuticals. Interaction studies are essential to determine efficacy, safety, and toxicity when nutraceuticals and therapeutic drugs are used concomitantly. This chapter describes various aspects of nutraceuticals, particularly their toxic potential, and the factors influencing their safety.

Antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia on high fat diet-fed rats

BACKGROUND

The study investigated the antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia on high fat diet-fed rats.

METHODS

The phytochemical constituents, total polyphenol content and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were estimated in the G. cambogia extract (GE). Male Wistar rats were fed with either standard rodent diet or 30% high-fat diet and administered with GE at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight/day for 10 weeks. At the end, lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters were estimated.

RESULTS

The analyses revealed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, sterols, tannins, flavonoids and saponins in GE. The total polyphenol content and FRAP of GE were 82.82±7.64 mg of gallic acid equivalents and 260.49±10.18 µM FRAP per gram of the GE. High-fat feeding elevated plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced HDL-C and blood antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase. Increase in total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and decrease in the total antioxidant status (TAS) were observed in plasma, liver and kidney of fat-fed rats. Administration of GE decreased food intake, plasma TC, TAG, non HDL-C, MDA, increased HDL-C and blood antioxidants GSH, GPx, catalase. GE also reduced TOS, OSI and elevated TAS in plasma and liver of fat-fed rats. Renal OSI was significantly reduced upon GE treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that GE is effective in ameliorating high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress.

Hydroxycitric acid ameliorates high-fructose-induced redox imbalance and activation of stress sensitive kinases in male Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Excess fructose consumption causes dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and various complications. Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), one of the principal components of the fruit Garcinia cambogia, has been shown to possess antiobesity properties. The objective was to investigate the effects of HCA on redox imbalance and activation of stress sensitive kinases in high fructose-fed rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats (n=40) were randomly divided into four groups with 10 rats in each group. The rats were fed with either standard rodent diet or 60% fructose diet and administered with HCA at a dose of 400 mg/kg body wt/day for 10 weeks. Body weight was measured once a week, and food intake was noted daily. At the end of the study, lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters were estimated. Expressions of stress sensitive kinases were analyzed in liver homogenates.

RESULTS

Fructose-fed rats displayed elevated body weight, higher levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non HDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), lower levels of HDL-C, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant status (TAS). Fructose feeding caused higher phosphorylation of stress sensitive kinases ERK ½ and p38. Administration with HCA lowered body weight, food intake, TAG, non-HDL-C, MDA, TOS, and OSI and elevated GSH, GPx, and TAS levels. Reduced phosphorylation of ERK ½ and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was observed upon HCA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, HCA improved fructose induced redox imbalance and activation of stress sensitive kinases through its hypolipidemic effects.

(-)-Hydroxycitric Acid Nourishes Protein Synthesis via Altering Metabolic Directions of Amino Acids in Male Rats

(-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a major active ingredient of Garcinia Cambogia extracts, had shown to suppress body weight gain and fat accumulation in animals and humans. While, the underlying mechanism of (-)-HCA has not fully understood. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of long-term supplement with (-)-HCA on body weight gain and variances of amino acid content in rats. Results showed that (-)-HCA treatment reduced body weight gain and increased feed conversion ratio in rats. The content of hepatic glycogen, muscle glycogen, and serum T4 , T3 , insulin, and Leptin were increased in (-)-HCA treatment groups. Protein content in liver and muscle were significantly increased in (-)-HCA treatment groups. Amino acid profile analysis indicated that most of amino acid contents in serum and liver, especially aromatic amino acid and branched amino acid, were higher in (-)-HCA treatment groups. However, most of the amino acid contents in muscle, especially aromatic amino acid and branched amino acid, were reduced in (-)-HCA treatment groups. These results indicated that (-)-HCA treatment could reduce body weight gain through promoting energy expenditure via regulation of thyroid hormone levels. In addition, (-)-HCA treatment could promote protein synthesis by altering the metabolic directions of amino acids. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Anti-obesity Effect of Yogurt Fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum Q180 in Diet-induced Obese Rats

This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of yogurt fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum Q180 in diet-induced obese rats. To examine the effects, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on six different diets, as follows: Group A was fed an ND and orally administrated saline solution; Group B, an HFD and orally administrated saline solution; Group C, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt fermented by ABT-3 and L. plantarum Q180; Group D, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt with added Garcinia cambogia extract, fermented by ABT-3 and L. plantarum Q180; Group E, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt fermented by L. plantarum Q180; and Group F, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt with added Garcinia cambogia extract, fermented by L. plantarum Q180 for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the rate of increase in bodyweight was 5.14%, 6.5%, 3.35% and 10.81% lower in groups C, D, E and F, respectively, compared with group B; the epididymal fat weight of groups E and F was significantly lower than that of group B; and the level of triglyceride and leptin was significantly reduced in groups C, D, E and F compared to group B. In addition, the level of AST was reduced in group C compared to the other groups. To examine the effects of yogurt on the reduction of adipocyte size, the adipocyte sizes were measured. The number of large-size adipose tissue was less distributed in groups A, C, D, E and F than in group B.

(-)-Hydroxycitric acid reduced fat deposition via regulating lipid metabolism-related gene expression in broiler chickens

BACKGROUND

Chicken as a delicious food for a long history, and it is well known that excess fat deposition in broiler chickens will not only induced metabolic diseases, but also lead to adverse effect in the consumer's health. (-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a major active ingredient of Garcinia Cambogia extracts, had shown to suppress fat accumulation in animals and humans. While, the precise physiological mechanism of HCA has not yet been full clarified, especially its action in broiler chickens. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of (-)-HCA on lipid metabolism in broiler chickens.

METHODS

A total of 120 1-day-old broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four groups, with each group was repeated three times with 10 birds. Birds received a commercial diet supplemented with (-)-HCA at 0, 1000, 2000 or 3000 mg/kg, respectively, for a period of 4 weeks ad libitum.

RESULTS

Body weight (BW) in the 2000 and 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) than that in control group. A significantly decreased of serum triglyceride (TG) and density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) content were observed in 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA group (P < 0.05). Broiler chickens supplmented with 2000 and 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA had pronouncedly higher hepatic lipase (HL) activity, hepatic glycogen and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) contents in liver (P < 0.05). Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroxin (T4) contents were significantly higher in 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA group (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Supplemental (-)-HCA markedly decreased fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) (P < 0.05) mRNA levels, while the mRNA abundance of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinaseβ2 (AMPKβ2) (P < 0.05) was significantly increased. In addition, ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) mRNA level (P < 0.05) was significantly decreased in broiler chickens supplemented with 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA. No differences was observed on carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I(CPT-I), while peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) mRNA level (P < 0.05) was significantly increased in broiler chickens supplemented with 2000 and 3000 mg/kg (-)-HCA.

CONCLUSIONS

Supplemental (-)-HCA inhibited lipogenesis by inhibiting ACLY, SREBP-1c and FAS expression, and accelerated lipolysis through enhancing HL activity and PPARα expression, which eventually led to the reduced abdominal fat deposition in broiler chickens. Graphical abstract Mechanism of (-)-HCA effect on hepatic lipids metabolism.

A review on possible therapeutic targets to contain obesity: The role of phytochemicals

The prevalence and severity of obesity has increased markedly in recent decades making it a global public health concern. Since obesity is a potential risk factor in the development of hypertension, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, infertility, etc., it is no more viewed as a cosmetic issue. Currently, only a few FDA-approved anti-obesity drugs like Orlistat, Lorcaserin and Phentermine-topiramate are available in the market, but they have considerable side effects. On the other hand, bariatric surgery as an alternative is associated with high risk and expensive. In view of these there is a growing trend towards natural product-based drug intervention as one of the crucial strategies for management of obesity and related ailments. In Asian traditional medicine and Ayurvedic literature a good number of plant species have been used and quoted for possible lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects; however, many of them have not been evaluated rigorously for a definite recommendation and also lack adequate scientific validation. This review explores and updates on various plant species, their used parts, bioactive components and focuses multiple targets/pathways to contain obesity which may pave the way to develop novel and effective drugs. We also summarised different drugs in use to treat obesity and their current status. Nature is future promise of our wellbeing.

Combination of deep sea water and Sesamum indicum leaf extract prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity through AMPK activation in visceral adipose tissue

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of a combination of deep sea water (DSW) and Sesamum indicum leaf extract (SIE) against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and investigate its molecular mechanisms in adipose tissue. ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: HFD control (HFC), DSW and DSW + 125 mg/kg SIE (DSS) groups. The mice in the HFC group had free access to drinking water while those in the DSW and DSS groups had free access to DSW. The mice in the DSS group were treated with SIE once per day for 8 weeks. The mice in all three groups were allowed to freely access a HFD. Compared with the HFC group, the DSS group showed lower body weight gain and serum levels of glucose, triglycerides and leptin. Histological analyses of the epididymal white, retroperitoneal white and scapular brown adipose tissue of mice in the DSS group revealed that the adipocytes were markedly decreased in size compared with those in the HFC group. Moreover, DSS significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its substrate, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in mice epididymal adipose tissues. Furthermore, DSS upregulated the expression levels of lipolysis-associated mRNA, specifically peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and energy expenditure-associated mRNA, namely uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) in the epididymal adipose tissues. By contrast, DSS suppressed the expression of the lipogenesis-related gene sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1) at the mRNA level. These results suggest that DSS is effective for suppressing body weight gain and enhancing the lipid profile.

Caloric restriction mimetics: towards a molecular definition

Caloric restriction, be it constant or intermittent, is reputed to have health-promoting and lifespan-extending effects. Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are compounds that mimic the biochemical and functional effects of caloric restriction. In this Opinion article, we propose a unifying definition of CRMs as compounds that stimulate autophagy by favouring the deacetylation of cellular proteins. This deacetylation process can be achieved by three classes of compounds that deplete acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA; the sole donor of acetyl groups), that inhibit acetyl transferases (a group of enzymes that acetylate lysine residues in an array of proteins) or that stimulate the activity of deacetylases and hence reverse the action of acetyl transferases. A unifying definition of CRMs will be important for the continued development of this class of therapeutic agents.

Antiobesity effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (actiponin): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The effects of actiponin was investigated, a heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract, on body weight, fat loss, and metabolic markers of Korean participants in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Obese participants (BMI ≥ 25 kg m(-2) and WHR ≥ 0.90 for male or WHR ≥ 0.85 for female) who had not been diagnosed with any disease and met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study. The 80 subjects were randomly divided into actiponin (n = 40, 450 mg day(-1) ) and placebo (n = 40) groups. Outcomes included measurement of efficacy (abdominal fat distribution, anthropometric parameters, and blood lipid profiles) and safety (adverse events, laboratory test results, electrocardiogram data, and vital signs).

RESULTS

During 12-week of actiponin supplementation, total abdominal fat area, body weight, body fat mass, percent body fat, and BMI were significantly decreased (P = 0.044, P < 0.05, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.05, respectively) in the actiponin group compared to the placebo group. No clinically significant changes in any safety parameter were observed.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that actiponin is a potent antiobesity reagent that does not produce any significant adverse effects. These results suggest that actiponin supplementation may be effective for treating obese individuals.

Garcinia Cambogia attenuates diet-induced adiposity but exacerbates hepatic collagen accumulation and inflammation

AIM: To investigate long-term effects of Garcinia Cambogia (GC), weight-loss supplement, on adiposity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese mice.

METHODS: Obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 45 kcal% fat) with or without GC (1%, w/w) for 16 wk. The HFD contained 45 kcal% fat, 20 kcal% protein and 35 kcal% carbohydrate. They were given free access to food and distilled water, and food consumption and body weight were measured daily and weekly, respectively. Data were expressed as the mean ± SE. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical package for the social science software program. Student’s t test was used to assess the differences between the groups. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: There were no significant changes in body weight and food intake between the groups. However, the supplementation of GC significantly lowered visceral fat accumulation and adipocyte size via inhibition of fatty acid synthase activity and its mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue, along with enhanced enzymatic activity and gene expression involved in adipose fatty acid β-oxidation. Moreover, GC supplementation resulted in significant reductions in glucose intolerance and the plasma resistin level in the HFD-fed mice. However, we first demonstrated that it increased hepatic collagen accumulation, lipid peroxidation and mRNA levels of genes related to oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and inflammatory responses (tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) as well as plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels, although HFD-induced hepatic steatosis was not altered.

CONCLUSION: GC protects against HFD-induced obesity by modulating adipose fatty acid synthesis and β-oxidation but induces hepatic fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress.

In vitro and in vivo toxicity of garcinia or hydroxycitric Acid: a review

Obesity is one of the pandemic chronic diseases commonly associated with health disorders such as heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes or even cancer. Among the current natural products for obesity and weight control, Garcinia or more specifically hydroxycitric acid (HCA) extracted from Garcinia has been widely used. The evaluation of the potential toxicity of weight control supplement is of the utmost importance as it requires long term continuous consumption in order to maintain its effects. Majority of reports demonstrated the efficacy of Garcinia/HCA without any toxicity found. However, a few clinical toxicity reports on weight-loss diet supplements of which some were combinations that included Garcinia/HCA as an active ingredient showed potential toxicity towards spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, it cannot be concluded that Garcinia/HCA is unsafe. Those products which have been reported to possess adverse effects are either polyherbal or multi-component in nature. To date, there is no case study or report showing the direct adverse effect of HCA. The structure, mechanism of action, long history of the use of Garcinia/HCA and comprehensive scientific evidence had shown “no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL)” at levels up to 2800 mg/day, suggesting its safety for use.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of hydroxycitric acid or Garcinia cambogia extracts in humans

Several studies have shown that Garcinia cambogia plays an important role in the regulation of endogenous lipid biosynthesis. This effect is specially attributed to (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA) inhibiting the enzyme ATP-dependent citrate lyase, which catalyzes the cleavage of citrate to oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA. Although several studies have found that the administration of G. cambogia extracts is associated with body weight and fat loss in both experimental animals and humans, we should be cautious when interpreting the results as other randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials have not reported the same outcomes. Furthermore, most studies in humans have been conducted on small samples and mainly in the short term. None of them have shown whether these effects persist beyond 12 weeks of intervention. Therefore, there is still little evidence to support the potential effectiveness and long-term benefits of G. cambogia extracts. With regard to toxicity and safety, it is important to note that except in rare cases, studies conducted in experimental animals have not reported increased mortality or significant toxicity. Furthermore, at the doses usually administered, no differences have been reported in terms of side effects or adverse events (those studied) in humans between individuals treated with G. cambogia and controls.

Petalonia binghamiae extract and its constituent fucoxanthin ameliorate high-fat diet-induced obesity by activating AMP-activated protein kinase

In this study, we investigated the antiobesity properties of Petalonia binghamiae extract (PBE) in mice in which obesity was induced with a high-fat diet (HFD). PBE administration (150 mg/kg/day) for 70 days decreased body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and the serum triglyceride level in mice fed a HFD. PBE reduced serum levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase as well as the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver. PBE restored the HFD-induced decrease in phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in epididymal adipose tissue. PBE increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC and decreased the expression of SREBP1c in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, we further explored the active compound responsible for AMPK activation by PBE in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoxanthin isolated from PBE increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC with increasing LKB1 phosphorylation in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, these data suggest that PBE (or fucoxanthin) exert improving effects on HFD-induced obesity by promoting β-oxidation and reducing lipogenesis.

The anti-obesity effect of Lethariella cladonioides in 3T3-L1 cells and obese mice

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a water extract of L. cladonioides (LC) has an anti-obesity effect in 3T3-L1 cells and obese mice. Treatment of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LC caused a significant increase in glycerol release and reduced the protein expression of the adipogenic transcription factors, PPARγ and C/EBPα. In an animal model, obese mice were artificially induced by a high fat diet for 10 weeks. Experimental groups were treated with LC (100 mg/kg/day) by gavage for the next 10 weeks. At the end of experiment, the body weight of the LC group mice was reduced by 14.2% compared to the high fat diet (HFD) group. The treatment also decreased liver (31.0%), epididymal (18.0%) and retroperitoneal (19.3%) adipose tissue, and kidney (6.7%) weights, respectively, compared with those of the HFD group. LC prevented diet-induced increases in the serum level of TC (22.6%), TG (11.6%), and glucose (35.0%), respectively, compared with the HFD group. However, the HDL-C level was higher in the LC group (26.1%) than the HFD group. The results of this study thus suggest that LC suppressed lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic transcription factors, and increased the amount of glycerol release. LC also indicated an anti-obese and anti-hyperlipidemic effect.

Comprehensive review on herbal medicine for energy intake suppression

The obesity drug development is present not a bright and successful story. So far, drugs reported to be effective, either from synthetic or natural sources, mostly stimulated controversy because of serious adverse effects, which ended with stopping clinical trials or even withdrawal from the market. However, obesity and its comorbidities have become rapidly a major problem in both developed and developing countries. This has encouraged pharmaceutical companies and academia to keep on struggling on developing novel effective but safe obesity drugs, and on characterizing novel obesity drug targets. From existing scientific work on obesity drug discovery and commercial slimming preparations, compounds originating from nature, especially from plants, seem to be the first choice. Traditional belief that herbal medicine is safer than synthetic ones is one of the classical arguments, although scientifically this is not always true (e.g. ban on Ephedra). But in general, it has been widely acknowledged that a plant compound, with its unique scaffolds and rich diversity is an unlimited source of novel lead compounds. This paper aims to summarize all works focused on screening plant materials by targeting important pathways related to energy intake regulation, either by in vivo or in vitro experiments.

Protective effect of Garcinia against renal oxidative stress and biomarkers induced by high fat and sucrose diet

BACKGROUND

Obesity became major health problem in the world, the objective of this work was to examine the effect of high sucrose and high fat diet to induce obesity on antioxidant defense system, biochemical changes in blood and tissue of control, non treated and treated groups by administration of Garcinia cambogia, and explore the mechanisms that link obesity with altered renal function.

METHODS

Rats were fed a standard control diet for 12 week (wk) or a diet containing 65% high sucrose (HSD) or 35% fat (HFD) for 8 wk and then HFD group divided into two groups for the following 4 wks. One group was given Garcinia+HFD, the second only high fat, Also the HSD divided into two groups, 1st HSD+Garcinia and 2nd HSD. Blood and renal, mesenteric, Perirenal and epididymal adipose tissues were collected for biochemical assays.

RESULTS

HFD and HSD groups of rats showed a significant increase in feed intake, Body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI). Also there were significant increases in weights of mesenteric, Perirenal and epididymal adipose tissues in HFD and HSD groups.HFD and HSD affect the kidney by increasing serum urea and creatinine levels and decreased level of nitric oxide (NO) and increased blood glucose, low density lipoproteins (LDL), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities were significantly decreased in HFD while there were significant increases in HSD and HSD+G groups p ≤ 0.05 compared with control. Moreover, renal catalase activities and MDA levels were significantly increased while NO level was lowered. These changes improved by Garcinia that decreased the oxidative stress biomarkers and increased NO level.There were significant positive correlations among BMI, kidney functions (Creatinine and urea), TG and Oxidative markers (renal MDA and catalase).

CONCLUSIONS

Rats fed a diet with HFD or HSD showed, hypertriglyceridemia, increased LDL production, increased oxidative stress and renal alteration. Moreover, suggesting association between lipid peroxidation, obesity and nephropathy, while Garcinia ameliorated the damaging effects of the HFD or HSD and decreased feed intake, MDA level and decreased oxidative stress in renal tissues.