Amelioration of experimental metabolic syndrome induced in rats by orlistat and Corchorus olitorius leaf extract; role of adipo/cytokines

The effects of orlistat on oxidative stress, recognition memory, spatial memory and hippocampal tissue in experimentally induced obesity in rats

This study investigates the impact of orlistat on oxidative stress, spatial memory, recognition memory, and hippocampal tissue in obese rats. The study groups were divided into control, high fat diet-induced obese (HFDIO), HFDIO+orlistat (HFDIO+ORL) groups, each consisting of 8 animals. While control fed with standart diet, HFDIO and HFDIO+ORL fed with high-fat diets for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Then, ORL treated 10 mg/kg for 7 weeks, while control and HFDIO get water. At 16th week, novel object recognition (NOR) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were performed. TNF-alpha, IL-1beta levels in hippocampal tissue, and total/native thiol/disulphide levels in serum were measured. TNF-alpha level of HFDIO was higher than control, while lower in HFDIO+ORL compared to HFDIO as like IL-1beta level. On the contrary, serum total thiol level was lower in HFDIO than control and higher in HFDIO+ORL compared to the HFDIO, while disulphide level was opposite of the total thiol levels. While recognition index was higher in HFDIO+ORL, in MWM, latency of finding platform in HFDIO was higher than control and latency of HFDIO+ORL was very similar to control in 2-4 days. The HFDIO group demonstrated decrease in time spent in platform zone compared to control, whereas time spent of the HFDIO+ORL was higher than HFDIO. Our study demonstrates that orlistat administration exerts beneficial effects on oxidative stress, spatial memory, recognition memory, and hippocampal tissue in obese rats. It shows that orlistat may have potential therapeutic implications for obesity-related cognitive impairments and hippocampal dysfunction.

Phytochemical composition, toxicological profiling and effect on pup birth weight of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract in rats: Implications for fetal macrosomia control

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Corchorus olitorius is used in ethnomedicine to arrest threatened miscarriage, ease labour, and promote smooth childbirth.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the phytochemical composition, toxicity profile, and effect of Corchorus olitorius L. leaf extract (COLE) on fetal macrosomia control in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical constituents of COLE were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A single dose of up to 5000 mg/kg was administered in the acute toxicity test, and the rats were monitored for 14 days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, rats were treated with the extract for 28 days, and liver function, renal function, lipid profile, and serum antioxidant parameters, coupled with liver and kidney histology, were used to assess the toxicity potential of the extract. In the pup birth weight study, treatment of pregnant rats lasted until the birth of pups and continued for an extra 4 weeks. Rats in group 1 served as a control, whereas rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 received daily doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of COLE, respectively, via oral gavage.

RESULTS

Bioactive compounds such as D-limonene, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid (Z), dodecanoic acid, and ethyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate with well-known pharmacological activities were detected. LD50 of COLE was >5000 mg/kg. COLE decreased body weight and increased red blood cell, packed cell volume, and haemoglobin values when compared with the control (p < 0.05). COLE significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase but did not cause any significant (p > 0.05) changes in other biochemical (liver and kidney) parameters when compared to control. COLE decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol when compared with the control (p < 0.05). Birth weights of pups were significantly decreased in the COLE-treated groups when compared with the control (p < 0.05), but the observed difference terminated by the fourth week of weaning.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that COLE is not toxic but has several bioactive compounds with known pharmacological activities and therefore may be a safe oral agent for fetal macrosomia control.

Corchorus olitorius extract exhibit anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory properties in rodent models of obesity and diabetes mellitus

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are chronic conditions with detrimental impacts on the overall health of individuals. Presently, the use of pharmacological agents in obesity and T2D offers limited benefits and pose side effects. This warrant studies on remedies that are less toxic and inexpensive while effective in ameliorating secondary complications in obesity and T2D. Plant-based remedies have been explored increasingly due to their remarkable properties and safety profile. We searched for pre-clinical evidence published from inception until 2023 on PubMed, Scopus, Google, and Semantic scholar on Corchorus olitorius (C. olitorius) in both obesity and T2D. Our focus was to understand the beneficial impact of this plant-based remedy on basic glycemic, lipid, inflammatory, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. The evidence gathered in this review suggests that C. olitorius treatment may significantly reduce blood glucose, body weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in concomitant with increasing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) in rodent models of obesity and T2D. Interestingly, this effect was consistent with the reduction of malonaldehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalases, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukins, and leptin. Some of the mechanisms by which C. olitorius reduces blood glucose levels is through stimulation of insulin secretion, increasing β-cell proliferation, thus promoting insulin sensitivity; the process which is mediated by ascorbic acid present in this plant. C. olitorius anti-hyperlipidemia is attributable to the content of ferulic acid found in this plant, which inhibits 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors and thus results in reduced synthesis of cholesterol and increased hepatic LDL-c receptor expression, respectively. The present review provides extensive knowledge and further highlights the potential benefits of C. olitorius on basic metabolic parameters, lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress in rodent models of obesity and T2D.

Resveratrol and Dulaglutide ameliorate adiposity and liver dysfunction in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome: Role of SIRT-1 / adipokines / PPARγ and IGF-1

BACKGROUND

Adiposity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are common characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MS). Understanding the underlying pathogenesis is crucial for the development of new remedies. Resveratrol controls obesity and glycemic disorders in patients with MS.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of resveratrol and dulaglutide on adipose tissues and liver in rats with MS, declaring their possible mechanisms.

METHODS

Rats allocated as Control, MS (induced by a high fat/ high sucrose diet for eight weeks), MS + Resveratrol (30 mg/kg/day orally), and MS + Dulaglutide (0.6 mg/kg twice weekly SC); drugs administration was in the last four weeks. Serum biochemical measurements were done. Liver and visceral fat were processed for biochemistry, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

MS results demonstrated significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glycemic indices, and lipids with decreased HDL-C. Tissue levels of leptin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and TNF-α reactivity significantly increased. Expression of adiponectin, PPARγ, and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) decreased. Also, Western blotting mRNA gene expression of liver SIRT-1 was down-regulated. Resveratrol and dulaglutide significantly and effectively reversed MS complexity, ameliorating all findings, particularly NAFLD and adiposity-induced inflammation. Resveratrol significantly appears superior to dulaglutide regarding the effects on hemodynamics, lipids, adipokines, IGF-1 levels, and adipocyte size. Parallel, dulaglutide has more influence on glycemic control.

CONCLUSION

Protective effects of the drugs may be through correlations between SIRT-1/adipokines/IGF-1 and PPARγ, improving the cross-talk between insulin resistance, obesity markers, liver dysfunction, and TNF-α. Promising multi-beneficial therapies of resveratrol or dulaglutide in MS are recommended clinically for this purpose. Showing the Experimental Design.

Therapeutic Potential of Reserpine in Metabolic Syndrome: An Evidence Based Study

Reserpine is as old as the scientific diagnosis of hypertension. For many years' clinicians have used it for the treatment of high blood pressure, but with the passage of time and introduction of new anti-hypertensive drugs, the usage of reserpine has gone down drastically most probably due to poorly understood mechanism of action and multiple misleading adverse effects precisely due to high dosing of reserpine. With an aim to elucidate the specific mechanism of action, we screened reserpine against various targets associated with regulation of blood pressure. Surprisingly reserpine showed remarkable inhibitory potential for soluble epoxide hydrolase an enzyme responsible for pathophysiology of not only hypertension but also hyperlipidemia, diabetes and inflammation collectively known as metabolic syndrome. The in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo results showed that reserpine has the ability to treat metabolic syndrome effectively by inhibiting soluble epoxide hydrolase.

The Anti-Obesity Potential of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats: Possible Involvement of Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Adipose Tissues

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a pandemic disease that is rapidly growing into a serious health problem and has economic impact on healthcare systems. This bleak image has elicited creative responses, and nanotechnology is a promising approach in obesity treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on a high-fat-diet rat model of obesity and compared their effect to a traditional anti-obesity drug (orlistat).

METHODS

The obese rats were treated daily with orlistat and/or SPIONs once per week for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical assays. Then, the animals were sacrificed to obtain white adipose tissues (WAT) and brown adipose tissues (BAT) for assessment of the expression of thermogenic genes and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN).

RESULTS

For the first time, we reported promising ameliorating effects of SPIONs treatments against weight gain, hyperglycemia, adiponectin, leptin, and dyslipidemia in obese rats. At the molecular level, surprisingly, SPIONs treatments markedly corrected the disturbed expression and protein content of inflammatory markers and parameters controlling mitochondrial biogenesis and functions in BAT and WAT.

CONCLUSIONS

SPIONs have a powerful anti-obesity effect by acting as an inducer of WAT browning and activator of BAT functions.

Orlistat Mitigates Oxidative Stress-Linked Myocardial Damage via NF-κβ- and Caspase-Dependent Activities in Obese Rats

Oxidative stress contributes to major complications of obesity. This study intended to identify whether orlistat could mitigate myocardial damage in obese animal models. The tested rats were divided into two groups and fed either with normal chow (n = 6 per group) or with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induce obesity (n = 12 per group). Obese rats were further subjected to treatment either with distilled water (OB group) or orlistat 10 mg/kg/day (OB + OR group). Key indices of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were assessed using an immunohistochemical-based technique and real-time PCR. The OB group showed significant increases of oxidative stress markers (TBARs and PCO), with significant decreases of anti-oxidant markers (Nrf2, SOD, CAT, and GPx). Furthermore, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α and NF-κβ) and pro-apoptosis markers (Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9) were significantly upregulated in the OB group. Obese rats developed pathological changes of myocardial damages as evidenced by the presence of myocardial hypertrophy and inflammatory cells infiltration. Orlistat dampened the progression of myocardial damage in obese rats by ameliorating the oxidative stress, and by inhibiting NF-κβ pathway and caspase-dependent cell apoptosis. Our study proposed that orlistat could potentially mitigate oxidative stress-linked myocardial damage by mitigating inflammation and apoptosis, thus rationalizing its medical usage.

A Comprehensive Review of C. capsularis and C. olitorious: A Source of Nutrition, Essential Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Activities

Plant bioactive compounds have gained global significance in terms of both medicinal and economic ramifications due to being easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects. Growing relevant clinical and scientific evidence has become an important criterion for accepting traditional health claims of medicinal plants and also supports the traditional uses of Corchorus as folk medicine. C. capsularis and C. olitorius have broad applications ranging from textile to biocomposite, and young leaves and shoots are used as healthy vegetables and have long been used as traditional remedies for fever, ascites, algesia, liver disorders, piles, and tumors in many cultures. This review systematically summarized and emphasized the nutritional attributes, mostly available bioactive compounds, and biological and potential pharmaceutical properties of C. capsularis and C. olitorius, disclosed to users and non-users. Results suggest that various phytochemicals such as cardiac glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, sterols, lipids, and fatty acids were found or analytically identified in different plant parts (leaf, stem, seed, and root), and many of them are responsible for pharmacological properties and their antitumor, anticancer, antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiviral, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic and antiobesity, and cardiovascular properties help to prevent and cure many chronic diseases. In addition to their use in traditional food and medicine, their leaves have also been developed for skin care products, and some other possible uses are described. From this review, it is clear that the isolated compounds of both species have great potential to prevent and treat various diseases and be used as functional foods. In conclusion, this comprehensive review establishes a significant reference base for future research into various medical and functional food applications.

The Effect of Orlistat on Sterol Metabolism in Obese Patients

BACKGROUND

Orlistat, a reversible inhibitor of pancreatic and gastric lipase, is known to have anti-obesity and antioxidant properties. Cholesterol intermediates and metabolites have diverse and important functions in cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of orlistat on sterol metabolism in overweight and obese adults after weight loss during the intervention or weight loss at 12 weeks.

METHODS

A total of 51 (27 in the control group and 24 in the experimental group), patients with a BMI of 27 or greater were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either orlistat (120 mg) three times a day plus phentermine hydrochloride (37.5 mg) once daily or a placebo three times a day plus phentermine hydrochloride (37.5 mg) once daily. The primary study outcome was sterol metabolism.

RESULTS

The experimental group exhibited significantly decreased metabolic signatures of serum sterols, free cholesterol, sitosterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol (7α-OHC), and 7β-OHC at 12 weeks. The experimental group also exhibited significantly decreased metabolic ratios of sitosterol and 7α-OHC to cholesterol at 12 weeks. Regarding changes in sterol signatures from baseline to 6-month follow-up, free cholesterol, plant sterols, and cholesterol precursors tended to decrease with weight loss during the intervention and increase again as the weight was regained in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Orlistat treatment improves oxysterol metabolism in overweight and obese adults. Our findings support that orlistat plays a crucial role in the process of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis via oxysterol modulation.

Novel insights into the pathological mechanisms of metabolic related dyslipidemia

Due to the technological advances, it has been well-established that obesity is strongly correlated with various health problems. Among these problems, dyslipidemia is one of the most important concomitant symptoms under obese status which is the main driving force behind the pathological progression of cardio-metabolic disorder diseases. Importantly, the type of dyslipidemia, arising from concerted action of obesity, has been identified as "metabolic related dyslipidemia", which is characterized by increased circulating levels of Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglycerides (TG) accompanied by lower circulating levels of High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). On the other hand, the metabolic related dyslipidemia is being verified as a vital link between obesity and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and Cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this review, we summarized the current understanding of metabolic related dyslipidemia and the potential mechanisms which lead to the pathogenesis of obesity. Meanwhile, we also summarized the emerging results which focused on several novel lipid bio-markers in metabolic related dyslipidemia, such as pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and their potential use as biomarkers of metabolic related dyslipidemia.

Pathology of metabolically-related dyslipidemia

It is well established that overweight/obesity is closely associated with multiple health problems. Among these, dyslipidemia is the most important and main driving force behind pathologic development of cardio-metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerotic-related cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Notably, a subtype of dyslipidemia, metabolic related dyslipidemia, is now recognized as a vital link between obesity and multiple different cardiovascular diseases. This condition is characterized by increased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) as well as decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of metabolic related dyslipidemia and the potential mechanisms which lead to the pathogenesis of obesity/overweight. We focus on several novel lipid biomarkers such as pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and their potential use as biomarkers of metabolic related dyslipidemia.

Bee Bread Ameliorates Vascular Inflammation and Impaired Vasorelaxation in Obesity-Induced Vascular Damage Rat Model: The Role of eNOS/NO/cGMP-Signaling Pathway

Obesity and hyperlipidemia are major risk factors for developing vascular diseases. Bee bread (BB) has been reported to exhibit some biological actions, including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic. This study aims to investigate whether bee bread can ameliorate vascular inflammation and impaired vasorelaxation activity through eNOS/NO/cGMP pathway in obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/group), namely: control (normal group), obese rats (OB group), obese rats treated with bee bread (0.5 g/kg/day, OB/BB group) and obese rats treated with orlistat (10 mg/kg/day, OB/OR group). The latter three groups were given a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induced obesity before being administered with their respective treatments for another 6 weeks. After 12 weeks of the total experimental period, rats in the OB group demonstrated significantly higher Lee obesity index, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein), aortic proinflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-κβ), aortic structural damage and impairment in vasorelaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh). Bee bread significantly ameliorated the obesity-induced vascular damage manifested by improvements in the lipid profile, aortic inflammatory markers, and the impaired vasorelaxation activity by significantly enhancing nitric oxide release, promoting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) immunoexpression. These findings suggest that the administration of bee bread ameliorates the impaired vasorelaxation response to ACh by improving eNOS/NO/cGMP-signaling pathway in obese rats, suggesting its vascular therapeutic role.

Spray-Dried Formulations Rich in Malvidin from Tintorera Grape Wastes: Characterization, Stability, and Storage

This research was focused on developing means of Tintorera grape (Vitis vinifera L.) waste recovery, devising new value-added uses for that material and optimizing of anthocyanin-rich formulations by spray-drying in order to obtain novel ingredients, all for food industry use. First, the identification of phenolic compounds in Tintorera grape extracts by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn enabled characterization of the raw material’s health-promoting characteristics. Maintaining the spray-dried products for 4 weeks’ storage enabled study of the formulation’s loss of anthocyanins and antioxidant properties due to drying process temperatures as well as analysis of the retention and stability of such compounds under different conditions (20 and 40 °C). Tintorera grapes presented a significant amount of Malvidin 3-O-hex (5.66 mg g−1 DW). Anthocyanins in spray-dried formulations were stable for 4 weeks. Optimal conditions in the spray-dryer facilitated the products’ antioxidant capacity; for instance, using 10% maltodextrin (w:v) at 90 °C inlet temperature had a little influence on the reduction in encapsulated malvidin 3-O-hex (15%) and presented 3.35 mg GAE g−1 DW of total polyphenol contents, 98.62 µmol Trolox (FRAP assay), and 39.97 µmol Trolox (DPPH assay). Principal component analyses (PCA) showed a high degree of dependence between anthocyanin content and maintenance of antioxidant capacity during storage. These results offer a promising alternative for the industrial management of wine-making wastes in order to implement a sustainable protocol for development of Tintorera grape extracts rich in bioactive compounds for new beverages and functional foods.

Anti-Atherogenic Effects of Orlistat on Obesity-Induced Vascular Oxidative Stress Rat Model

Obesity is typically linked to oxidative stress and inflammation, which lead to vascular damage and initiate the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-atherosclerotic effect of orlistat on obesity-induced vascular oxidative stress in obese male rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into two groups: normal (Normal group, n = 6) and high-fat diet (HFD group, n = 12). After six weeks, obese rats in the HFD group were administered either with distilled water (OB group) or orlistat 10 mg/kg/day (OB/OR group) for another six weeks. The OB group had a significant increase in lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) and decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level compared to the Normal group. The aortic antioxidants enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT)) as well as total glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the OB group were significantly decreased compared to the Normal group. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory atherosclerotic markers (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)) expressions were increased significantly, and anti-inflammatory marker (interleukin-10 (IL-10)) was decreased significantly in the OB group compared to the Normal group. Treatment with orlistat significantly improved lipid profile, increased antioxidant enzymes and expression of anti-inflammatory markers, and decreased the expression of the pro-inflammatory marker compared to the OB group. These findings may suggest the therapeutic effect of orlistat in attenuating the progression of the atherosclerotic stage in obesity.

Diagnostic Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome in Diet-Induced Rodent Models: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Thousands of publications in recent years have addressed the induction of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in rodents. However, the criteria and the reference values for diagnosing this disease have not been defined.

OBJECTIVE

Our main objective was to carry out a systematic review to gather evidence about the criteria for biochemical and anthropometric parameters in which scientific studies have relied on to report that rats developed MetS from a previous dietary manipulation.

METHODS

We compiled characteristics and findings of diet-induced MetS with high-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-fat/high-carbohydrates, and cafeteria diet from PubMed and Science Direct databases published in the last 5 years.

RESULTS

The results on the principal determinants for the syndrome, published in the reviewed articles, were chosen to propose reference values in the rat models of food induction.

CONCLUSION

The values obtained will serve as reference cut-of points in the development of the disease; in addition, the compilation of data will be useful in planning and executing research protocols in animal models.

Liposomal drug delivery of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract containing phytol using design of experiment (DoE): In-vitro anticancer and in-vivo anti-inflammatory studies

Phytol, a pharmacologically active compound present in Corchorus olitorius leaf exhibit a range of activity including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective etc. However, phytol is poorly soluble and absorbed through the intestine wall, therefore the aim of this study is to develop liposomal drug delivery of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract with an average particle size below 150 nm and drug loading efficiency of ≥ 85 %. The impact of different process parameters and material attributes were studied on the average particle size and polydispersity of liposomal batches using design of experiment (DoE). Corchorus olitorius leaf extraction was performed using maceration method and characterised using GC-MS. Liposomal batches of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract were characterized using Malvern zetasizer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV spectroscopy. The in-vivo anti-inflammatory study of the liposomal preparation of phytol was evaluated using a rat model and in-vitro cancer cell line study was performed on AML and Leukamia cell lines. GC-MS study data showed that phytol is present in C. olitorius leaf extract. Process parameters and material attributes perspective processing temperature, buffer pH and drug: lipid ratio is found as major parameters affecting the average particle size and PDI value of liposomes. Liposomes were prepared in the range of 80-250 nm and optimized batches of liposomes showed drug entrapment efficiency of 60-88 %. In-vivo anti-inflammatory study showed significant activity for C. olitorius leaf extract against carrageenan induced paw edema, which is significantly increased while delivered through liposomes. In-vitro cancer cell line study data suggests that liposomal delivery of phytol was more active at lower concentration compared to pure phytol, for specific cell lines.

Emerging functions of adipokines in linking the development of obesity and cardiovascular diseases

Increasing evidence shows that obesity is the critical factor in shaping cardio-metabolic phenotypes. However, the pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely clarified. According to the published reports, adipose tissue communicates with several diverse organs, such as heart, lungs, and kidneys through the secretion of various cytokines named adipokines. The adipocytes isolated from obese mice or humans are dysfunctional with aberrant production of pro-inflammatory adipokines, which subsequently induce both acute and chronic inflammatory reaction and facilitate the process of cardio-metabolic disorder complications. Furthermore, the microenvironment within adipose tissue under obese status also influence the secretion of adipokines. Recently, given that several important adipokines have been completely researched and causally involved in various diseases, we could make a conclusion that adipokines play an essential role in modulating the development of cardio-metabolic disorder diseases, whereas several novel adipokines continue to be explored and elucidated. In the present review, we summarized the current knowledge of the microenvironment of adipose tissue and the published mechanisms whereby adipocytes affects obesity and cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, we also provide the evidence to elucidate the functions of adipokines in controlling and regulating the inflammatory reactions which contribute to obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Molokhia leaf extract prevents gut inflammation and obesity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Molokhia is highly consumed in Egypt as edible and medicinal plants, and its leaves are used for the treatment of pain, fever, and inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

High-fat diet (HFD) induces gut dysbiosis, which is closely linked to metabolic diseases including obesity and leaky gut. The effects of molokhia (Corchorus olitorius L.) on anti-obesity and gut health were investigated in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of a water-soluble extract from molokhia leaves (WM) on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and on body weight, gut permeability, hormone levels, fecal enzyme activity of the intestinal microflora, and gut microbiota in HFD-induced C57BL/6J mice were examined.

RESULTS

WM treatment significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Mice treated with 100 mg/kg WM had 13.1, 52.4, and 17.4% significantly lower body weights, gut permeability, and hepatic lipid accumulation than those in the HFD group, respectively. In addition, WM influenced gut health by inhibiting metabolic endotoxemia and colonic inflammation. It also altered the composition of the gut microbiota; in particular, it increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased that of Desulfovibrio.

CONCLUSION

Our results extend our understanding of the beneficial effects of WM consumption, including the prevention of gut dysbiosis and obesity.

Biochemical and nutritional overview of diet-induced metabolic syndrome models in rats: what is the best choice?

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition that includes obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemias among other, abnormalities that favors type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases development. Three main diet-induced metabolic syndrome models in rats exist: High carbohydrate diet (HCHD), high fat diet (HFD), and high carbohydrate-high fat diet (HCHHFD). We analyzed data from at least 35 articles per diet, from different research groups, to determine their effect on the development of the MS, aimed to aid researchers in choosing the model that better suits their research question; and also the best parameter that defines obesity, as there is no consensus to determine this condition in rats. For the HCHD we found a mild effect on body weight gain and fasting blood glucose levels (FBG), but significant increases in triglycerides, fasting insulin, insulin resistance and visceral fat accumulation. HFD had the greater increase in the parameters previously mentioned, followed by HCHHFD, which had a modest effect on FBG levels. Therefore, to study early stages of MS a HCHD is recommended, while HFD and HCHHFD better reproduce more severe stages of MS. We recommend the assessment of visceral fat accumulation as a good estimate for obesity in the rat.

Alagebrium Mitigates Metabolic Insults in High Carbohydrate and High Fat Diet Fed Wistar Rats

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by sustained hyperglycemia that triggers advanced glycation end products (AGEs) generation. Alagebrium (ALA) is an advanced glycation end products (AGEs) cross-links breaker.Methods: 32 Wistar rats were divided into normal control (NC) group (8 rats) and MS groups (24 rats) received a high carbohydrate high fat diet (HCFD) for 10 weeks. Rats with established MS were equally divided into 3 subgroups remained on HCFD for further 6 weeks: MS control (MSC), ALA treated received 10 mg/kg/day ALA orally and metformin treated (MF) (a reference drug) received 50 mg/kg/day MF orally. The studied parameters were systolic blood pressure (SBP), body and liver weights (BW, LW), LW/BW% ratio, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, lipid profile, liver enzymes, serum AGEs, hepatic Interleukin-17 (IL-17), adipokines, pAkt/Akt ratio, and liver histopathology.Results: HCFD elevated SBP, BW, LW and LW/BW% ratio, FBG, serum insulin, and AGEs. It also deteriorated lipid profile and liver enzymes, induced inflammation, insulin resistance and histopathological derangements. ALA ameliorated the elevated SBP, FBG, lipid profile, liver enzymes, mitigated insulin resistance, hepatic IL-17, serum AGEs, modulated adipokines levels and improved liver histopathology. However, MF had better effects than ALA in all studied parameters except AGEs.Conclusion: ALA is protective against dietary-induced MS via ameliorating the inflammatory process and serum AGEs that implicated in MS pathogenesis, which makes it a promising new tool in MS treatment.