Search Results (87)

Background and Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major public health concern associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. It was found that even physiological pregnancy is followed by a significant shift in serum lipid profile, and even more pronounced in GDM pregnancies. We aimed to comprehensively assess lipid parameters among pregnant women with and without GDM. Materials and Methods: A systematic review, covering PubMed, WoS, and SCOPUS until 23 July 2024, with meta-analysis and meta-regression, was conducted, comprising studies measuring TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and TG/HDL ratio in pregnant women diagnosed with GDM, and those with normal glucose tolerance. The overall effect size measure was the SMD. NOS and JADAD scales were used for quality assessment, I² statistics for heterogeneity evaluation, and funnel plots for publication bias inspection. Results: A total of 457 studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and 74, 277, and 122 studies were included in the quantitative analysis for the 1st 2nd, and 3rd trimester, respectively. TG and TG/HDL levels were significantly elevated in all three trimesters (TG: SMD = 0.61, 0.57, and 0.48, p < 0.001 for all, and TG/HDL: SMD = 0.44, 0.66, and 0.49; p < 0.001 for all), while TC and LDL-C levels showed significant increases in the 1st and 2nd trimesters (TC: SMD = 0.38, 0.27, p < 0.001 for both, LDL-C: SMD = 0.33, 0.20, p < 0.001 for both), in pregnant women with GDM compared to those without the condition. Conclusions: GDM is associated with significant lipid abnormalities, particularly elevated TG and decreased HDL-C levels. These lipid changes are most pronounced in the first and second trimesters, highlighting the importance of early detection and management. Full article

Background: Childhood obesity is a significant global health concern. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has been shown to play a role in lipid metabolism. This study aimed to assess BChE activity, obesity-related and lipid-related indices, and dyslipidemia in obese and non-obese children, and to investigate the associations of these parameters with obesity among Thai children. Methods: The study included 661 Thai children, consisting of 338 with obesity and 323 with a normal weight. Anthropometric measurements, metabolic parameters, obesity- and lipid-related indices, and BChE activity were evaluated. Results: The obese group exhibited significantly higher BChE activity and obesity-related and lipid-related indices compared to the non-obese group (p < 0.01). Additionally, metabolic parameters—including glucose levels, triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and TyG-related indices—as well as the lipid profile, which included triglycerides (TG), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), were all significantly elevated in the obese group (p < 0.01). Obesity was associated with dyslipidemia (p < 0.01). Moreover, BChE activity showed a positive correlation with obesity-related and lipid-related indices, along with several metabolic parameters (p < 0.002). The upper stratum of BChE activity (OR = 5.356), the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio (OR = 2.185), and the TG/HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.703) were found to be effective in evaluating and predicting the risk of obesity, even after adjusting for potential covariates (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These findings indicate a significant relationship between obesity and increased BChE activity, lipid-related indices, and dyslipidemia in Thai children. Therefore, changes in BChE activity may be considered a factor associated with obesity, enhancing its potential as a marker for obesity assessment. Full article

Background: Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is the accumulation of fat in the liver without excessive alcohol consumption or other known liver diseases. MASLD is the most common liver disease in adolescents with obesity. The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to determine which index (waist circumference BMI, WHtR, VAI, METS-IR, METS-VF, HSI, FLI, or MetS_zscore) best explains the prevalence of MASLD in adolescents with obesity; (ii) to determine whether there was a specific index that was most strongly associated with MASLD; (iii) to assess which liver function indexes were most strongly correlated with MASLD. Methods: A total of 758 adolescents with severe obesity (BMI z-score > 2) admitted at the Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo-Verbania for a 3-week multidisciplinary body weight reduction program were selected. Anthropometric parameters (stature, body mass, BMI, and waist and hip circumference) were collected, and body composition (lean and fat mass) was determined using the tetrapolar bioimpedance analysis (BIA) technique. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma GT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using standard techniques. MASLD was diagnosed based on abdominal ultrasound results. Results: WHtR (65.76%) was the most sensitive compared with other indexes. The HSI (AUC: 0.67 (0.63–0.71, 95% CI), p-value < 0.05) showed the best performance in predicting MASLD, with the threshold for having MASLD considered at 48.22. The indexes that showed the worst performance in predicting MASLD were the MetS z-score (AUC: 0.56 (0.52–0.60)) and the VAI (AUC: 0.57 (0.52–0.61)). ALT (OR: 2.92 (2.29–3.77); 95% CI) and AST (OR: 2.52 (2.03–3.20)) were the parameters with a stronger correlation with MASLD. Conclusions: The most sensitive index for diagnosing MASLD was the WHtR, based exclusively on anthropometric parameters. HSI was the index that correlated the most with MASLD, while the parameters of liver function (ALT and AST) were the most strongly correlated with the disease and its severity. Full article

Background: Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) is a sexually dimorphic, anti-obesity CYP enzyme responsible for the metabolism of xeno- and endobiotics, including the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE) and 9-hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acid (9-HOTrE). However, humanized CYP2B6 transgenic (hCYP2B6-Tg) mice are sensitive to diet-induced hepatic steatosis despite their resistance to obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine if 9-HODE, 9-HOTrE, or other factors contribute to the sexually dimorphic steatosis observed in hCYP2B6-Tg mice. Results: Cyp2b9/10/13-null (Cyp2b-null) mice were injected with either 9-HODE or 9-HOTrE for 2 days and were then subjected to a fasting period of 20 h to induce steatosis. Serum lipids were moderately increased, especially in females, after 9-HODE (triglycerides (TGs), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)) and 9-HOTrE (high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), cholesterol) treatment. No change in hepatic lipids and few changes in hepatic gene expression were observed in mice treated with either oxylipin, suggesting that these oxylipins had minimal to moderate effects. Therefore, to further investigate CYP2B6’s role in steatosis, hCYP2B6-Tg and Cyp2b-null mice were subjected to a 20 h fast and compared. Both male and female hCYP2B6-Tg mice exhibited increased steatosis compared to Cyp2b-null mice. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDLs, and VLDLs were increased in hCYP2B6-Tg males. Serum triglycerides and VLDLs were decreased in hCYP2B6-Tg females, suggesting the greater hepatic retention of lipids in females. Hepatic oxylipin profiles revealed eight perturbed oxylipins in female hCYP2B6-Tg mice and only one in males when compared to Cyp2b-null mice. RNA-seq also demonstrated greater effects in females in terms of the number of genes and gene ontology (GO) terms perturbed. There were only a few overlapping GO terms between sexes, and lipid metabolic processes were enriched in hCYP2B6-Tg male mice but were repressed in hCYP2B6-Tg females compared to Cyp2b-nulls. Conclusions: hCYP2B6-Tg mice are sensitive to fasting-mediated steatosis in males and females, although the responses are different. In addition, the oxylipins 9-HODE and 9-HOTrE are unlikely to be the primary cause of CYP2B6’s pro-steatotic effects. Full article

People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) present an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), making it crucial to optimize glycemic control and assess metabolic markers. HbA1c is considered the gold standard for evaluating glycemic control, while fructosamine (FA) offers advantages in assessing non-glycemic determinants. Discrepancies between HbA1c and FA are common and may be influenced by temporal factors. The Glycation Gap (G-gap) emerges as a tool to clarify these discrepancies. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving PLWHIV with various glycemic statuses, as well as patients with T2D and controls. Sociodemographic data were collected along with blood samples to measure biochemical profiles and FA. HbA1c predicted from FA (pHbA1c) was calculated using a linear regression equation, facilitating G-gap determination. A positive correlation was found between G-gap and levels of VLDL-C and triglycerides (TG). Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between HDL-C levels < 40 mg/dL and a positive G-gap. These associations suggest that the G-gap may be a useful tool for metabolic evaluation in PLWHIV and a preventive method for identifying individuals at risk of developing chronic complications related to T2D. Full article

Background: Brassica nigra possesses a significant concentration of bioactive compounds and has been demonstrated to have a variety of pharmacological properties, although its sprout has not been extensively studied. Thus, the protective effects of Brassica nigra sprout hydroalcoholic extract (BNSE) on lipid homeostasis, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced toxicity in rats were examined in this study. Methods: Four experimental rat groups (n = 8 for each group) were examined as follows: NR, normal rats that received normal saline by oral gavage daily; CYP, injected with a single dose of CYP at 250 mg kg⁻¹ intraperitoneally (i.p.) and did not receive any treatment, receiving only normal saline by oral gavage daily; CYP + BNSE250, injected with a single dose of CYP at 250 mg kg⁻¹ i.p. and treated with BNSE at 250 mg kg⁻¹ by oral gavage daily for three weeks; and CYP + BNSE500, injected with a single dose of CYP at 250 mg kg⁻¹ i.p. and treated with BNSE at 500 mg kg⁻¹ by oral gavage daily for three weeks. Results: The results indicated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c) levels in CYP-induced toxicity rats. The administration of BNSE at 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated TG, CHO, LDL-c, and VLDL-c at values comparable with the NR group. The most efficient treatment for improving the lipid profile and atherogenicity complication was BNSE at 500 mg kg⁻¹, performing even better than 250 mg kg⁻¹. Administrating BNSE at 250 or 500 mg kg⁻¹ improved the liver’s function in a dose-dependent manner. Comparing the lower dose of 250 mg kg⁻¹ of BNSE with 500 mg kg⁻¹ showed that administrating 250 mg kg⁻¹ attenuated alanine transaminase (ALT) by 28.92%, against 33.36% when 500 mg kg⁻¹ was given. A similar trend was observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), where 19.44% was recorded for BNSE at 250 mg kg⁻¹ and 34.93% for BNSE at 500 mg kg⁻¹. Higher efficiency was noticed for BNSE at 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ regarding alkaline phosphatase (ALP). An improvement of 38.73% for BNSE at 500 mg kg⁻¹ was shown. The best treatment was BNSE at 500 mg kg⁻¹, as it markedly improved liver function, such as total bilirubin (T.B.), in a dose-dependent manner. The administration of BNSE attenuated the total protein (T.P.), albumin, and globulin levels to be close to or higher than the typical values in NR rats. Conclusions: BNSE might be used for its promising hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective potential and to prevent diseases related to oxidative stress. Further research on its application in humans is highly recommended. Full article

Transportation, an unavoidable process in livestock farming, causes metabolic disorders in the body, which then lead to endocrine disruption, being immunocompromised, and growth suppression. Lipid metabolism dysregulation is a critical phenotype induced by transportation. The liver is a vital organ in lipid metabolism, with a role in both lipid synthesis and lipolysis. However, the specific mechanisms by which transportation affects hepatic lipid metabolism remain unclear. This study employed rats as a model to investigate the effects of transportation on hepatic lipid metabolism. Rats subjected to transportation showed altered serum lipid profiles, including decreased serum triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) immediately after transportation (IAT) and serum total cholesterol (TC) on day 3, and increasing serum TG, TC, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on day 10. Meanwhile, fatty droplets in the liver were also reduced at IAT and increased on days 3 and 10. Notably, transportation also affected hepatic-lipid-metabolism-related enzyme activities and signaling pathways, such as increased AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) phosphorylation and modulations in key proteins and genes related to lipid metabolism, decreased hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) activities at IAT, and increased carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 alpha (CPT-1α) at IAT and ACC and CPT-1α activities on days 3 and 10. Supplementation with alkaline mineral complex water (AMC) before and after transportation mitigated the adverse effects on hepatic lipid metabolism by modulating the AMPKα-SREBP-1c/PPARα pathway, enhancing lipid synthesis, and reducing the oxidative catabolism of fatty acids. AMC inhibited the transportation-induced activation of AMPKα and restored the balance of lipid-metabolism-related enzymes and pathways. These findings highlight AMC’s potential as a therapeutic intervention to alleviate transportation-induced lipid metabolism disorders, offering significant implications for improving animal welfare and reducing economic losses in livestock farming. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dyslipidemia is frequently linked to various disorders, and its clinical relevance is now recognized. The role of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) in dyslipidemia has been acknowledged. This study assessed the potential of arbutin (ARB) to prevent dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation in rats with acute hyperlipidemia. Methods: Rats received ARB orally for 14 days and a single intraperitoneal injection of poloxamer-407 on day 15. Results: Poloxamer-407 elevated circulating cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL), and LDL, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). ARB ameliorated the circulating lipids and LPL, and suppressed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in rat liver and in vitro. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) in rat liver and its in vitro activity were suppressed by ARB, which also upregulated the LDL receptor (LDL-R) and ABCA1, and had no effect on ABCG5 and ABCG8 mRNA. ARB ameliorated liver malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and enhanced antioxidants in rats with dyslipidemia. Liver NF-κB p65 and blood inflammatory cytokines were increased in dyslipidemic rats, effects that were reversed by ARB. Moreover, ARB effectively suppressed lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities in dyslipidemic rats. The biochemical findings were supported by in silico data showing the affinity of ARB to bind LDL-R PCSK9 binding domain, HMGCR, FAS, and E-NTPDase. Conclusions: ARB possessed anti-dyslipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects mediated via the modulation of CHOL and TG synthesis, LPL, lymphocyte E-NTPDase and E-ADA, and cytokine release in rats. Thus, ARB could be an effective agent to attenuate dyslipidemia and its associated OS and inflammation, pending further studies as well as clinical trials. Full article

Dietary sodium restriction increases plasma triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations as well as causing insulin resistance and stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system. Stimulation of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1) is associated with insulin resistance, inflammation, and the inhibition of adipogenesis. The current study investigated whether aerobic exercise training (AET) mitigates or inhibits the adverse effects of dietary sodium restriction on adiposity, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity in periepididymal adipose tissue. LDL receptor knockout mice were fed either a normal-sodium (NS; 1.27% NaCl) or a low-sodium (LS; 0.15% NaCl) diet and were either subjected to AET for 90 days or kept sedentary. Body mass, blood pressure (BP), hematocrit, plasma TC, TG, glucose and 24-hour urinary sodium (U_Na) concentrations, insulin sensitivity, lipoprotein profile, histopathological analyses, and gene and protein expression were determined. The results were evaluated using two-way ANOVA. Differences were not observed in BP, hematocrit, diet consumption, and TC. The LS diet was found to enhance body mass, insulin resistance, plasma glucose, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-TG and reduce U_Na, HDL-C, and HDL-TG, showing a pro-atherogenic lipid profile. In periepididymal adipose tissue, the LS diet increased tissue mass, TG, TC, AT1 receptor, pro-inflammatory macro-phages contents, and the area of adipocytes; contrarily, the LS diet decreased anti-inflammatory macrophages, protein contents and the transcription of genes related to insulin sensitivity. The AET prevented insulin resistance, but did not protect against dyslipidemia, adipose tissue pro-inflammatory profile, increased tissue mass, AT1 receptor expression, TG, and TC induced by the LS diet. Full article

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern worldwide, including in Pakistan. Cardiovascular problems linked with T2DM have a significant impact on individuals and society. The goal of this study is to investigate the relationship between Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular complications such as ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke. Methods: This study was carried out on 260 subjects divided into controls and diabetics. The diabetics were further divided into four subgroups such as D1: diabetics without cardiovascular issues, D2: diabetics with heart disease, D3: diabetics with stroke, and D4: diabetics with both heart disease and stroke. Anthropometric parameters (age, BMI) and risk factors (smoking, diabetes duration, hypertension) were assessed in all groups. Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL, HDL, VLDL, creatinine, BSF, and HbA1c were also measured. Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism was determined using PCR-RFLP. Results: Hypertension, BMI, and dyslipidemia are defined as elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL, and decreased levels of HDL. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia (elevated fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin) in T2DM was linked to vascular complications such as IHD and stroke. Hypertension was prevalent in 79.3% of the population. Stage 2 hypertension was more prevalent in all age groups. It was also noted that common genotypes in the Pakistani population are 3/3, 4/4, 2/3, and 3/4. The frequency of genotypes 3/4 and 2/3 is highest in diabetics with stroke. Genotype 3/3 is present frequently in diabetics with IHD/stroke and patients with both these complications. However, genotype 4/4 is most frequently found in diabetics with IHD. Conclusions: It is concluded that BMI, hypertension, hyperglycemia, atherosclerosis, and dyslipidemia are linked with cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes. Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism is associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes by affecting the lipid profile. Full article

The mushrooms oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) and white button (Agaricus bisporus) contain bioactive compounds that have potential beneficial effects on hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, hypolipidemic and antioxidative potential of these mushrooms’ extract were explored using hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats as animal model. For the study, 56 adult rats were divided into seven groups, i.e., G₁ (negative control), G₂ (positive control group), G₃ (HC rats with statin drug orally), G₄ and G₅ (HC rats @ 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) dose of oyster mushroom extracts), and G₆ and G₇ (HC rats @ 100 and 200 mg/kg BW dose of white button mushroom extracts). The hypercholesterolemia was induced experimentally in fasted rats through a high-fat diet along with injection of triton WR-1339. After 48 h, the treatment groups were given extract for 28 days along with standard diet. At the trial termination, we analyzed the blood sugar levels, antioxidant parameters, lipid profile, and renal function, as well as conducting liver function tests of the rats. The results indicated that positive control group rats exhibited increased levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density level (LDL), and very-low-density level (vLDL) by 19%, 37%, 52%, and 32%, respectively, and 53% decrease in HDL, whereas treatment groups that received 200 mg oyster and white button mushroom extracts reported 15%, 34%, 22% reduction in TC, TG, vLDL, respectively, and 22% improvement in HDL level. The enzyme profiles of different groups showed non-significant differences, although both mushroom extracts provision reduced glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels. Overall, the results indicated that mushroom extracts were helpful in maintaining oxidative stress and have the potential to improve dyslipidemia in the tested rat animal model. Full article

Plasma lipid levels are commonly measured using traditional methods such as triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and cholesterol (CH). However, the use of newer technologies, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with post-analysis platforms, has made it easier to assess lipoprotein profiles in research. In this study involving ApoE-deficient mice that were fed high-fat diets, significant changes were observed in TG, CH, free cholesterol (FC), and phospholipid (PL) levels within the LDL fraction. The varied proportions of TG in wild-type mice and CH, FC, and PL in ApoE^-/- mice were strikingly different in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), LDL, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and HDL. This comprehensive analysis expands our understanding of lipoprotein subfractions and the impacts of the APOE protein and high-fat diet in mouse models. The new testing method allows for a complete assessment of plasma lipids and their correlation with genetic background and diet in mice. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) in improving body weight, obesity-related outcomes, and lipid profiles of overweight people. Thirty-six overweight participants were randomly assigned to either a probiotic or a placebo group. A placebo powder or L. bulgaricus powder (containing 1 × 10⁸ colony-forming unit (CFU) of the probiotic) was administered daily for 12 weeks. Body composition was determined, and blood tests were performed before and after the intervention. L. bulgaricus supplementation under the present condition did not affect the body weight, fat percentage, or body mass index (BMI) of the participants, while it resulted in a notable decrease in blood triglyceride (TG) levels, which corresponded to a lowering of the TG proportion in the composition of large VLDL (L–XXL sized fractions) and HDL (M and L fractions) in the probiotic-treated group. These results suggest that L. bulgaricus supplementation under the current conditions may not be helpful for losing weight, but it has the potential to decrease blood TG levels by modulating TG accumulation in or transport by VLDL/HDL in obese patients. L. bulgaricus supplements may have health-promoting properties in preventing TG-related diseases in overweight people. Full article

Rosuvastatin (RSV) is a widely used cholesterol-lowering medication, but its limited bioavailability due to its susceptibility to stomach pH and extensive first-pass metabolism poses a significant challenge. A fast-dissolving film (FDF) formulation of RSV was developed, characterized, and compared to the conventional marketed tablet to address this issue. The formulation process involved optimizing the thickness, disintegration time, and folding durability. All formulations were assessed for in vitro disintegration, thickness, folding endurance, in vitro dissolution, weight, and content uniformity. The study’s results revealed that the optimized RSV-FDF displayed a significantly faster time to maximum plasma concentration (t_max) of 2 h, compared to 4 h for the marketed tablet. The maximum plasma concentration (C_max) for the RSV-FDF (1.540 µg/mL ± 0.044) was notably higher than that of the marketed tablet (0.940 µg/mL ± 0.017). Additionally, the pharmacodynamic assessment in male Wistar rats demonstrated that the optimized RSV-FDF exhibited an improved lipid profile, including reduced levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), elevated high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), decreased triglycerides (TGs), and lower very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) compared to the conventional tablet. These findings underscore the potential of RSV-FDFs as a promising alternative to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of rosuvastatin in treating dyslipidemia. The faster onset of action and improved lipid-lowering effects make RSV-FDFs an attractive option for patients requiring efficient cholesterol management. Full article

The nephroprotective potential of the Brassica nigra sprout (BNS) hydroalcoholic extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced renal toxicity in rats was the object of this study. B. nigra sprouts were prepared in the lab to monitor the bio-changes in bioactive compounds during the sprouting for up to 7 days at 17 ± 1 °C and 90% relative humidity. Subsequently, 6-day sprouts of B. nigra were selected according to their phenolics and antioxidant activity, extracted, and examined for their nephroprotective and antioxidative stress potential at 250 and 500 mg sprout extracts kg⁻¹ bw, in vivo. Weight gain, organ weight, lipid profile, atherogenic index, kidney functions, and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed. The results indicated that the most proficient treatment for weight gain improvement was BNS extract at 500 mg kg⁻¹. BNS at 250 mg kg⁻¹ was remarked as the lowest weight gain enhancer compared to the NR group. A significant increase in TG, TC, LDL-c, and VLDL-c levels in the rats with CCl₄-induced renal toxicity, and a significant decrease in HDL level, was noted. The administration of the BNS extract at 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ considerably attenuated TG, TC, LDL-c, and VLDL-c levels, compared to the NR group. The most efficient treatment for improving the lipid profile was the BNS extract at 500 mg kg⁻¹, even better than 250 mg kg⁻¹. Administrating the BNS extract substantially attenuated the alterations in the creatinine, urea, and BUN caused by the CCl₄ injection. The most efficient improvement was markedly recorded with the BNS extract at 500 mg kg⁻¹, compared to the NR group. The rats treated with the BNS extract showed significant enhancement in GSH, CAT, and SOD activities and a considerable reduction in MDA levels. Administering the BNS extract at 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ can efficiently reverse CCl₄ inhibition of antioxidant enzyme activities, significantly increase GSH, CAT, and SOD, and decrease the MDA levels dose-dependently. The BNS extract at 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ exhibits nephroprotection and antioxidative stress in a dose-dependent matter. The total nephroprotection % was recorded at 65.18% and 99.21% for rats treated with 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. These findings could prove and potentiate the nephroprotective activities of the BNS extract in the range of the given doses. Further clinical studies are highly recommended for confirming the nephroprotection efficiency of the B. nigra sprout. Full article