The potential of antioxidant-rich Maoberry (Antidesma bunius) extract on fat metabolism in liver tissues of rats fed a high-fat diet.

BACKGOUND: Obesity and dyslipidemia are major risk factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD refers to the accumulation of fat in more than 5% of the liver without alcohol consumption. NAFLD is the most common liver disease and is rapidly becoming a global public health problem. Maoberry (Antidesma bunius) is a fruit rich in antioxidants, especially phenolic compounds, which are reported to have benefits for patients with NAFLD. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of Maoberry extract on fat metabolism in liver tissues of high fat diet-induced rats. Five (5) groups (n = 12) of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into those given a high fat diet with no treatment (HF), different dosages of Maoberry extracts (0.38 [ML], 0.76 [MM) and 1.52 [MH] g/kg body weight) and 10 mg/kg statin (STAT). The rats were fed a high fat diet for 4 weeks to induce obesity and subsequently continued more for 12 weeks with treatments of Maoberry extracts or STAT. The levels of triglyceride, liver enzymes, oxidative stress and inflammation markers, triglyceride synthesis regulators, and pathology of the liver in high fat diet-induced rats were investigated. RESULTS: Feeding Maoberry extract in MH groups resulted in decreasing levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver triglyceride, liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT)-1 and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) compared with the HF group (P < 0.05). Moreover, histopathological study of the liver showed reduced fat droplets in the Maoberry extract treatment groups, especially in MH groups and STAT treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The improvements of fat metabolism in liver tissues of rats fed a high-fat diet were observed in Maoberry extracts treatment groups. The underline mechanism that link to fat metabolism might be through the process accompanied with down-regulated the gene expression of key enzymes of lipid production, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammation properties of Maoberry extracts which contains high levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds.

Maoberry (Antidesma bunius) ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiac tissues of rats fed a high-fat diet.

BACKGOUND: Chronic fat-rich diets consumption is increased risk associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Prevention or reduction the progression of cardiac tissue deterioration could benefit in CVD. This study aimed to examine the effects of maoberry (Antidesma bunius), a antioxidant-rich tropical fruit, supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiac tissues of rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: The male rats orally received HFD with maoberry extract doses of 0.38, 0.76 or 1.52 g/kg or simvastatin (10 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were fasted, euthanized and harvested for the hearts. RESULTS: Significantly reduced oxidative stress (malondialdehyde levels) and enhanced antioxidant capacity (ferric-reducing activities) in cardiac tissues of the rats were found. Maoberry extract remarkably ameliorated the expressions of genes involved with pro-inflammatory such as the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that maoberry extract has remarkable effects on preventing progression of cardiac tissue deterioration at least through lowering oxidative stress and inflammation.

High fat diet for induced dyslipidemia and cardiac pathological alterations in Wistar rats compared to Sprague Dawley rats.

INTRODUCTION: Wistar and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats are generally used as models for the cholesterol metabolism experiments. They are acceptable to high fat diet-induced disorders with individual variations, including dyslipidemia and abnormal cardiac pathology. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of high fat diet in inducing dyslipidemia and cardiac pathological alterations between Wistar and SD rats. METHODS: We compared the differences in plasma cholesterol levels and cardiac pathological alterations between Wistar and SD rats of standard diet (3.90 kcal/g) and high fat diet (5.40 kcal/g) after 4 weeks. RESULTS: SD rats fed with high fat diet showed significantly enhanced LDL concentration and the decreased HDL concentration when compared to Wistar rats. Additionally, SD rats showed cardiac pathological alterations such as infiltration of mononuclear cells referring to inflammatory response and high amounts of perivascular fat playing a key role in the impairment of vascular functions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that SD rats may be the more suitable model for dyslipidemia and alteration of cardiac pathology induced by high fat diet.

Maoberry (Antidesma bunius) Improves Glucose Metabolism, Triglyceride Levels, and Splenic Lesions in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

Excessive consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dark purple maoberry (Antidesma bunius) fruit is a very good source of antioxidants. We investigated the effects of maoberry on immune function, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress in HFD-induced hypercholesterolemia. Seventy-two male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the normal group fed with standard diet (ND); HFD groups (HF); and low, medium, and high dose of maoberry extract groups and a simvastatin group (HF-L, HF-M, HF-H, and HF-S, respectively). Maoberry groups were given maoberry extract at concentrations of 0.38, 0.76, and 1.52 g/kg per day. At the same time, HF-S groups were administered simvastatin 10 mg/kg per day. After 12 weeks of maoberry treatment, significant reductions in body weight and triglyceride levels were observed in HF-L, HF-M, and HF-H groups in comparison with HF groups (P < .05). Obvious negative changes in spleen histology were found in HF groups, but not in maoberry-treated groups. Modest, but not significant, improvements were observed in other lipid profiles, immune cells in peripheral blood, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity after maoberry supplementation. In summary, these findings suggest that maoberry was helpful in reducing atherogenic risk factors such as lipid profiles, especially triglyceride, inflammation, oxidative stress related to CVD, and lesions in spleen histopathology.