Effect of Bergamot Leaves (Citrus bergamia) in the Crosstalk between Adipose Tissue and Liver of Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Abstract

The excessive consumption of diets rich in sugar and fat is associated with metabolic manifestations involving adipose tissue and the liver. Bergamot, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been used to treat metabolic disorders. This work aimed to verify the effect of Bergamot leaves extract (BLE) on the crosstalk in the adipose tissue–liver axis of obese rats. For 20 weeks, Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control (Control) and high sugar–fat (HSF) diet groups. Afterwards, the animals were redistributed into three groups for 10 weeks: control diet + vehicle (Control, n = 08), HSF + vehicle (HSF, n = 08), and HSF + BLE (HSF + BLE, n = 08). The BLE was carried out daily by gavage (50 mg/kg). The HSF group presented obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hepatic microvesicular steatosis, higher inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver and adipose tissue. In comparison to the HSF group, HSF + BLE animals showed protection by reducing the triglyceride levels, insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress in hepatic and adipose tissues. BLE acted on the inflammation and oxidative stress in the adipose tissue–liver axis in obese rats when compared to the HSF group, which may have reflected on the improvement of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.

Bergamot Byproducts: A Sustainable Source to Counteract Inflammation

“…Thereby, anti-inflammatory approaches are suggested in the management of these pathologies [ 84 ]. Regarding the role of bergamot derivatives and byproducts on metabolic disorders, it was seen that a bergamot leaf extract (BLE) is able to decrease inflammation (TNF-α and IL-6 levels) and oxidative stress, acting on the adipose tissue–liver axis of obese rats, with an effect which might improve both insulin resistance and dyslipidemia conditions [ 85 ]. In the same experimental model, BLE was also studied at the hypothalamic level, where it reduced the inflammation (decreasing the production of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 3, IL-6 and TNF-α and activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway) and oxidative stress, thus counteracting the resistance to leptin (known as the “satiety hormone”) of obese rats [ 86 ].…”