Preventive effect of a melon extract rich in superoxide scavenging activity on abdominal and liver fat and adipokine imbalance in high-fat-fed hamsters

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Jul 22;57(14):6461-7. doi: 10.1021/jf900504g.

Abstract

Studies showed that dietary antioxidants could be a therapy against obesity that is associated with a state of oxidative stress. Thus, this paper investigates whether a dietary ingredient, a melon juice extract rich in superoxide dismutase, would prevent the development of such obesity in hamsters. Five groups received a standard diet or a high-fat diet (HF) plus a daily gavage with water (control) or extract at 0.7, 2.8, or 5.6 mg/day. After 84 days, the higher dose lowered triglyceridemia (68%), production of liver superoxide anion (12%), mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity (40%), lipid and protein oxidation products (35 and 35%, respectively), and leptinemia (99%) and increased adiponectinemia (29%), leading to a concomitant reduction in insulinemia (39%), insulin resistance (41%), and abdominal lipids (25%). The extract triggered a remarkable decrease of liver lipids (73%) and fully prevented the steatohepatitis induced by the HF diet. Chronic consumption of this melon extract may represent a new alternative to reduce obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Fat
  • Adipokines / blood*
  • Animals
  • Cricetinae
  • Cucurbitaceae / enzymology*
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Fatty Liver / prevention & control*
  • Fruit / enzymology
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mesocricetus
  • Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Superoxide Dismutase / administration & dosage*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Adipokines
  • Dietary Fats
  • Lipids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Triglycerides
  • Superoxide Dismutase