Lycopene alleviates Western diet-induced elevations in anthropometrical indices of obesity, adipose lipids, and other nutritional parameters.

Objective: Given the unrelenting surge in the prevalence of obesity and the intensified efforts aimed at elucidating underlying mechanisms and proffering effective treatments, this study investigated the effects of lycopene on various anthropometrical indices of obesity. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were equally divided into two groups and fed either control diet or Western diet. After eight weeks, obese rats (fed Western diet) were divided into three groups (n=5); obese control received the vehicle, while the other two received lycopene (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively). Normal rats were grouped into three (n=5) and treated similarly. This treatment lasted for another two weeks, in addition to their respective diets. Afterwards, anthropometrical indices were taken. Results: The weight gain, adiposity index, abdominal and thoracic circumference, body mass index, and Lee index were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the obese rats compared to the normal control, by 108.3%, 102.1%, 81.5%, 97.6%, 47.4%, and 13.9%, respectively. The obese rats had significantly (p<0.05) higher adipose tissue lipid contents, daily feed (37.4%) and energy intake (66.0%), daily weight gain (108.3%), and feed efficiency (25.5%) compared to control. However, the treatment of obese rats with lycopene occasioned a dose-dependent reduction in the elevated anthropometrical and nutritional parameters. In addition, lycopene elicited significant reductions (p<0.05), ranging from 16-54%, in the adipose lipid contents. Conclusion: The data presented here illustrate the positive effects of lycopene on indices of obesity and other anthropometric parameters in obese female rats.

Duration effects of alcohol graded concentrations on the extent of lipid peroxidation, testis morphology and sperm quality assessment in Wistar rats.

Alcohol consumption is known to cause an array of alcohol-induced biochemical changes in a biological system. This study investigated the durations effects of different alcohol concentrations (30%, 40%, and 50%) on malondialdehyde levels, testes histology, and sperm characteristics in matured male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into four groups namely thus; control, 30%, 40% and 50%. Control group was orally administered 0% alcohol while, group 30%, 40% and 50% received orally 30%, 40% and 50% of alcohol concentrations (3.20 g/ Kg body weight) respectively for maximum durations of 28 days. On the day 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, five rats from each group (control, 30%, 40% and 50% alcohol) were sacrificed, and malondialdehyde levels, testes histology, and sperm characteristics were examined. Graded alcohol concentrations caused different detrimental effects on sperm characteristics and induced pathological lesions in the testes. Significant increases in serum, liver and testes malondialdehyde levels were durations independent but almost entirely concentrations dependent. Ultimately, administration of alcohol graded concentration led to loss of sperm motility and testicular degeneration in concentration and durations dependent manner without a concomitant increase in the malondialdehyde levels.

Propolis ethanol extract abrogates hyperglycemia, lipotoxicity, and lowered hepatic poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase protein level in male albino rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes is a major cause of death worldwide and currently available allopathic drugs presents adverse side effects, thus, necessitating a continuous screening for natural products. This study therefore investigated the effects of Propolis Ethanol Extract (PEE) on blood sugar, lipid metabolism, and poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARPs) protein level of diabetic male Wistar rats. METHODOLOGY: Seventy rats weighing between (150-180) g used in this study were randomized into seven (7) groups as follows: group 1 (Normal control given Olive oil), group 2 (Diabetic control given Olive oil), group 3 [Diabetic + PEE (200 mg/kg)], group 4 [Diabetic + (PEE 600 mg/kg)], group 5 [Diabetic + Glibenclamide (10 mg/kg)], group 6 [Normal + PEE (200 mg/kg)], and group 7 [Normal + PEE (600 mg/kg)]. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg in 0.1 M citrate buffer pH 4.5), while the vehicle and PEE were orally administered once daily. Treatment with PEE commenced after the confirmation of diabetes. Five rats from each group were sacrificed after the third and sixth weeks of PEE treatment. RESULTS: Administration of PEE significantly (P < 0.05) lowered the elevated fasting blood sugar, improves body weight, and abated lipotoxicity in the brain, heart, liver and kidney of the treated groups in a dose- and duration-dependent manners. The increased protein level of PARPs and lowered hydroxyl methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase activity were significantly reversed after PEE treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that PEE might be a suitable and viable regimen against diabetic complications in rats.

A time course study on dose-response relationship between alcohol exposure and its effects on lipid profile and biomarkers of tissue damage.

This present research investigated variations in lipid profiles and important biomarkers of tissue damage in response to graded concentrations of alcohol administration in male Wistar rats. Group A (control) received distilled water while group B, C and D received 30%, 40% and 50% (v/v) alcohol respectively. Five rats each from groups A-D were sacrificed after day(s) 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of administration. A significant increase was observed at day 28 for serum cholesterol by 79% (group B), 78% (group C) and 47% (group D) together with serum phospholipid 58% (group B), 50% (group C) and 92% (group D). Serum triacylglycerol increased by 71% (group B), 43% (group C) and 16% (group D) at day 21, while concentration of serum albumin decreased at day 28 by 40.9% (group B), 50.2% (group C), 53.3% (group D) respectively when compared with control (group A). Serum aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase specific activities, as well as creatinine and uric acid concentration increased in a concentration-dependent manner, following alcohol administration. Though most of these effects induced by alcohol were time- and concentration-dependent, 40% alcohol appear to be more stable, giving results consistent with alcohol-induced damages, with minimal mortality. This study therefore further validated dyslipidemia and imbalance in clinical biomarkers as hallmarks of tissue damage induced by excessive alcohol consumption with an insight on the time- and concentration-response relationship between alcohol consumption and its toxicity.

Probiotics consortium synergistically ameliorates aflatoxin B1-induced disruptions in lipid metabolism of female albino rats.

To investigate the effects of oral administration of probiotics consortium on lipid metabolism in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposed rats, ninety female albino rats were first grouped into two: NC (control fed standard feed) and AF (fed AFB1-contaminated feed at 40 ppb). After eight weeks, baseline animals were sacrificed from both groups while the others further divided into four groups - NC treated with and without the probiotics consortium, aflatoxin treated with and without the probiotics consortium (NCT, NCC, AFT, and AFC respectively). Five animals from each group were sacrificed weekly for four weeks, with the collection of blood, liver, brain, and the small intestine. Administration of probiotics instigated significant (p < 0.05) reductions in the elevated plasma and organ lipids as well as HDL-TAG and VLDL + LDL CHO concentrations of animals exposed to AF. AF-induced hepatic lipogenesis and up-regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity were also significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated following treatment with probiotics in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, neither AF nor probiotics had any effect on glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. Lipid peroxidation was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in probiotics-treated AF groups, compared to the AF-control groups. This study indicates that the probiotic consortium used synergistically ameliorated the AFB1-induced disruptions in lipid metabolism.