ABSTRACT
Obesity is a key risk factor for many diseases, as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, infertility, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as increased risk for many cancers. Telmisartan and Candesartan cilexetil are angiotensin II receptor blockers which had proven to involve in pathogenesis of obesity and NAFLD. AIMS: This work is designed to explore the possible mitigated effects of Telmisartan and Candesartan cilexetil on weight gain and fatty liver in high fat diet (HFD) fed rats. MAIN METHODS: The HFD rat model was achieved with induction of NAFLD. For Seven weeks either telmisartan or candesartan were orally administered at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively once daily. The effects of both drugs were evaluated by measurements of rat's body weight, food intakes, length, body mass index (BMI), liver weight, inguinal and interscapular fat weights. In addition, we assayed lipid profile, liver functions tests, serum inflammatory cytokines, adipokine and leptin. Lastly, liver and adipose tissue histopathological structures were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: at end of experiment, telmisartan and candesartan were highly effective in decreasing rat's body weight from (213.1±2.68 to 191.2±2.54 and 203.5±5.89 gm , respectively), BMI, liver weight, fat weights in addition reduced serum levels of lipid and liver enzymes. Also, inflammatory cytokines were reduced with repaired histopathological insults in liver by significantly damped NAFLD score from (6.5 ±0.17 to 1±0 and 4 ±0, respectively) and decreased areas of adipocytes from (21239.12 to 5355.7 and 11607.1 um2 , respectively). SIGNIFICANCE: Telmisartan and candesartan have therapeutic potential against obesity and NAFLD induced by HFD in rats. All the previous indices showed more improvement in telmisartan than candesartan group.