Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major health problem worldwide characterized by excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Apelin is a biologically active peptide identified as one of the adipokines. Insulin is considered one of the main regulators of apelin production. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between body antioxidant capacity and toxic oxidant products. Lepidium sativum (LS) is an annual herb with antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Objective:To study the effect of LS on blood apelin levels and some metabolic and oxidative parameters in 2 strains of albino rats fed on high fat diet (HFD). Material and Methods: Sixty adult male albino rats, 30 Wistar rats and 30 Sprague Dawely (SD) rats, divided into six equal groups . Group I (Wistar control), group II (Wistar rats fed on HFD), group III (Wistar rats fed on HFD and LS), group IV (SD control rats), group V (SD rats fed on HFD) and group VI (SD rats fed on HFD and LS). The body weights were measured and recorded weekly. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for estimation of the serum levels of apelin, fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, lipid profile, reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The adipose tissue was dissected for estimation of the adiposity index. Results: HFD fed rats showed increase in the body wights and adiposity index in both strains when each was compared to their corresponding control group. Feeding by LS seeds powder showed: A- In Wistar rats: Significant increase in their body weight gain, adiposity index, serum level of GSH and HDL-C. On the other hand, there was significant decrease in serum levels of apelin, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-C (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and MDA when compared to HFD wistar rats. B- In SD rats: There were insignificant changes in their weight gain and adiposity index. In addition significant decrease was observed in serum levels of apelin, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, TC, TG, LDL- C, VLDL and MDA. Also, there were significant increases in serum levels of GSH and HDL-C when compared to the HFD SD rats. Conclusion: LS could ameliorate the metabolic and oxidative disturbances induced by HFD in both strains. Apelin and VLDL levels returned almost back to normal after addition of LS seeds powder to HFD fed SD rats. LS in the studied dose increase the body weight significantly in Wistar rats. However, it decreased VLDL and triglycerides close to their control levels.

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