The modulating effect of ferulic acid on high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia and obesity: A dose response study in male sprague dawley rats

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound predominantly found in cereals have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Here, we studied the effect of FA on high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia and obesity in rats. Materials and Methods: Hyperlipidemia was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by feeding HFD for 14 weeks. The hypolipidemic effect was evaluated by co-administering 50, 100, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight of FA. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed and serum/plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), 3-hydroxy-3methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase) and adiponectin were determined. Moreover, Histopathological examination of liver and visceral adipose tissue (AT) was also carried out. Results: HFD treatment significantly increased weight gain, body mass index, total fat pad mass, blood lipids, LDL cholesterol and serum transaminases. HFD +FA fed rats showed a significant decrease in blood lipids and an increase in antioxidant enzymes when compared to the HFD control rats. The activity of HMG CoA reductase and serum adiponectin levels were elevated in rats administered with FA. Among the 4 doses studied, 200 mg of FA/kg body weight exhibited optimum hypolipidemic activity. Histological observations in the liver and visceral AT added additional evidence for the lipid-lowering effect of FA. Conclusion: These findings indicate that FA can act as a hypolipidemic agent, probably by modulating the activity of HMG CoA reductase and serum adiponectin levels.