Abstract
BackgroundObesity is recognized as a leading global health problem, correlated with an increased risk for several chronic diseases. One strategy for weight control management includes the use of vegetables rich in bioactive compounds to counteract weight gain, improve the antioxidant status and stimulate lipid catabolism.Aim of the StudyThe aim of this study was to investigate the role of Raphanus sativus Sango sprout juice (SSJ), a Brassica extraordinarily rich in anthocyanins (AC) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), in a non-genetic model of obesity (high fat diet-HFD induced).MethodsControl groups were fed with HFD or regular diet (RD). After a 10-week period, animals were assigned to experimental units and treated by gavage for 28 days as follows: HFD and RD control groups (rats fed HFD or RD and treated with vehicle only) and HFD-treated groups (rats fed HFD and treated with 15, 75 or 150 mg/kg b.w. of SSJ). Body weight and food consumption were recorded and serum lipid profile was measured (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-esterified fatty acids). Hepatic phase-I, phase-II as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities were assessed.ResultsSSJ lowered total cholesterol level, food intake and liver weight compared with HFD rodents. SSJ at medium dose proved effective in reducing body-weight (~19 g reduction). SSJ was effective in up-regulating the antioxidant enzymes catalase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, oxidised glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, which reached or exceeded RD levels, as well as the phase II metabolic enzyme UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (up to about 43%). HFD up-regulated almost every cytochrome P450 isoform tested, and a mild down-regulation to baseline was observed after SSJ intervention.ConclusionThis work reveals, for the first time, the antioxidant, hypolipidemic and antiobesity potential of SSJ, suggesting its use as an efficient new functional food/nutraceutical product.
Highlights
Obesity is one of the major health problems worldwide
15.00 0.30 15.97† 0.20 14.56** 0.18 13.91**† 0.24 15.34 0.24 b.w. body weight; SSJ, Sango sprout juice (Values are mean ± standard error of the mean (S.E.M.) of seven measurements performed on seven rat samples for each studied group) Mean values were significantly different compared with the high-fat diet (HFD) group: *P
S.E.M. 15.81 0.13 b.w. body weight; TAG, Triglycerides; NEFA, non esterified fatty acids; SSJ, Sango sprout juice (Values are mean ± standard error of the mean (S.E.M.) of seven measurements performed on seven rat samples for each studied group) Mean values were significantly different compared with the HFD group: *P
Summary
Obesity is one of the major health problems worldwide. Already in the late 90’s, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that obesity was reaching epidemic proportions [1], becoming one of the major public health concerns [2]. It was hypothesized that systemic oxidative stress may be directly induced by obesity, probably due to excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue, leading to adipocyte hypertrophy and elevated levels of adipocytokine [11,12]. In both cases, directly or indirectly, obesity presents a depletion of antioxidant defenses, generally showing a depressed antioxidant status [13]. Obesity is recognized as a leading global health problem, correlated with an increased risk for several chronic diseases. One strategy for weight control management includes the use of vegetables rich in bioactive compounds to counteract weight gain, improve the antioxidant status and stimulate lipid catabolism.
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