Journal of Liver

Lycopene Improves Metabolic Disorders and Liver Injury Induced by a Hight-Fat Diet in Obese Rats

14^th International Conference on Liver Diseases & Hepatology

May 18, 2023 | Webinar

Lina Baz

King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Liver

Abstract:

Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is positively related to the development of obesity. Lycopene (LYC) can potentially combat HFD- induced obesity and metabolic disorders in rats. This study aimed to investigate the effect of LYC on metabolic syndrome and assess its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the liver and adipose tissue in rats fed an HFD. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I (the control group) was fed a normal diet, group II (HFD) received an HFD for 16 weeks, and group III (HFD + LYC) received an HFD for 12 weeks and then LYC (25 mg/kg b.wt) was administered for four weeks. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, lipid profile, liver function biomarkers, and inflammatory markers were determined. The results showed that long-term consumption of an HFD significantly increased weight gain, liver weight, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Rats on an HFD displayed higher levels of lipid peroxidation and inflammatory markers. Moreover, liver and white adipose tissue histopathological investigations showed that LYC treatment mended the damaged tissue. Overall, LYC supplementation successfully reversed HFD-induced changes and shifts through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, LYC displayed a therapeutic potential to manage obesity and its associated pathologies.

Biography :

An assistant professor of biochemistry at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and a visiting research consultant at King Fahad Medical Research Center. She obtained a philosophy degree in bioscience in 2018 from King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). In addition to her teaching responsibilities at KAU, she supervises postgraduate students: master and Ph.D. students. She also oversees and mentors several research projects collaborating with fellow scientists from different universities and research centers. Throughout her 15 years of employment at KAU (2008-present), she held various executive and administrative positions, including the secretary of the High Committee of Scientific Summit and the graduate program coordinator at the biochemistry department. She has published several papers on carotenoid metabolic engineering and carotenoid-derived hormones and signaling molecules. She is currently investigating the effect of carotenoids and apocarotenoids on liver tissue, particularly carotenoids’ role in repairing injured liver tissue.