Enhancement of antioxidant defense mechanism by pitavastatin and rosuvastatin on obesity-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats.

CONTEXT: There has been a steady increase in the epidemiology of obesity over the last 30 years with developed countries leading the way. Oxidative stress was believed to be the principle contributor to the development of cardiovascular disorders that linked with obesity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the enhancement of antioxidant defense mechanism by Pitavastatin (PTV) and Rosuvastatin (RSV) on obesity-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. METHODS: Fifty Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. High fat diet (HFD, 20 g/day/rat) pellets were given for 28 days to produce obesity-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats. Oral administration of HFD along with PTV, RSV and Orlistat [(HFD for 28 days + from 8th day PTV (1 mg/kg), RSV (5 mg/kg) and Orlistat (10 mg/kg) to 28th day] were given respectively. RESULTS: Both PTV and RSV produced significant (p < 0.01) reduction in serum apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), cardiac-lipid peroxides (TBARS) levels and elevation in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), cardiac antioxidant enzymes [glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catase (CAT)] levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Results were comparable with Orlistat, a standard antiobesity drug and present initial evidence that Pitavastatin and Rosuvastatin are useful for the treatment of obesity by enhancing the antioxidant defense mechanism. However, the effects of PTV were more prominent than RSV. The present findings of Pitavastatin and Rosuvastatin raise the possibility of a new application as an antiobesity therapeutic modality.