Hesperidin and capsaicin, but not the combination, prevent hepatic steatosis and other metabolic syndrome-related alterations in western diet-fed rats

Andrea Mosqueda-Solís,Bárbara Reynés,Juana Sánchez,Catalina Picó,Andreu Palou,Mariona Palou,María P Portillo

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32875-4

Abstract

We aimed to assess the potential effects of hesperidin and capsaicin, independently and in combination, to prevent the development of obesity and its related metabolic alterations in rats fed an obesogenic diet. Three-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: Control (animals fed a standard diet), WD (animals fed a high fat/sucrose (western) diet), HESP (animals fed a western diet + hesperidin (100 mg/kg/day)), CAP (animals fed a western diet + capsaicin (4 mg/kg/day)), and HESP + CAP (animals fed a western diet + hesperidin (100 mg/kg/day) + capsaicin (4 mg/kg/day)). Hesperidin and capsaicin were administered by gavage. Capsaicin decreased body fat gain and prevented insulin resistance, whereas hesperidin showed little effect on body fat gain and no apparent effects on insulin resistance. No additive effects were observed with the combination. Capsaicin and hesperidin, separately, improved blood lipid profile, diminished hepatic lipid accumulation, and prevented non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in western diet-fed rats, but the combination showed lower effects. Hesperidin alone, and to a lesser extent capsaicin or the combination, displayed hypotensive effects in western diet-fed rats. In conclusion, capsaicin and hesperidin, separately, exhibit health beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome-related alterations in western diet-fed rats, but the effects are mitigated with the combination.

Highlights

We aimed to assess the potential effects of hesperidin and capsaicin, independently and in combination, to prevent the development of obesity and its related metabolic alterations in rats fed an obesogenic diet
Nowadays the use of natural bioactive compounds is trending as alternative methods for the treatment and management of obesity and related diseases, but the efficacy of such approaches depends on the absorption, metabolism and bioavailability of such compounds, which may be influenced by disease state[4]
The WD and HESP + CAP groups exhibited the presence of hepatocyte ballooning, necrotic hepatocytes and infiltrated lymphocytes, which are indicative characteristics of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and distinguished from simple steatosis[23]. These results suggest that hesperidin and capsaicin separately, but not the combination, can prevent the development of NASH induced by western diet feeding

Summary

Introduction

We aimed to assess the potential effects of hesperidin and capsaicin, independently and in combination, to prevent the development of obesity and its related metabolic alterations in rats fed an obesogenic diet. Capsaicin and hesperidin improved blood lipid profile, diminished hepatic lipid accumulation, and prevented non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in western diet-fed rats, but the combination showed lower effects. Hesperidin alone, and to a lesser extent capsaicin or the combination, displayed hypotensive effects in western diet-fed rats. Capsaicin and hesperidin, separately, exhibit health beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome-related alterations in western diet-fed rats, but the effects are mitigated with the combination. Possible interactions between bioactive agents, leading to additive or synergistic effects or, on the contrary, to a decrease in their efficacy, should be considered. Several studies, including preclinical and clinical trials, have demonstrated that hesperidin may have therapeutic effects on a great variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurological and psychiatric disorders, among others[9]

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