Curcumin exerts a protective effect against obesity and liver injury induced by an atherogenic diet

GONZÁLEZ, PAULA MARIELA; OLANO, CAROLINA; STEIMETZ, TAMMY; MACRI, ELISA VANESA; ANTONA, MARÍA EUGENIA; CABRERA, JOAQUÍN; ZAGO, VALERIA; FRIEDMAN, SILVIA MARÍA; RAMOS, CECILIA; MORALES, CELINA; PUNTARULO, SUSANA

Funct foods health dis

Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds (ASFFBC).

Lugar: San Diego; Año: 2021 vol. 11 p. 673 - 689

Background: Curcumin (Cur) is a natural yellow polyphenol extracted from the turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa). Cur is known for its potential therapeutic properties as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anti-mutagenic, although some of these biological activities remain unproven. Epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between high-fat diets and diet-related chronic diseases. We hypothesized that some adverse effects of consuming atherogenic or high-fat diets (AD) can be ameliorated by Cur supplementation. Using an experimental model of rats, this study investigated the significance of Cur when it is given as a supplement in an AD.Methods: Healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Controls (C) received a standard diet and experimental rats were fed with AD or AD+Cur for 5 weeks. Cur (100 mg/kg body weight) was given orally daily, plus piperine (5 mg/kg body weight). The effect of Cur supplementation was studied on zoometrics, visceral fat content, serum lipids profile, hepatosteatosis, liver function and oxidative status. Results: Diets did not alter energy consumption. As compared to the other groups, AD+Cur group showed a lower total visceral fat content, percentage of perirenal, mesenteric, and pelvic fat, and body weight gain (P< 0.05). Serum total cholesterol (P