Biochanin A attenuates obesity cardiomyopathy in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation through the Nrf-2 pathway

Abstract

Objective

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of biochanin A (BCA) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity cardiomyopathy.

Methods

BCA (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered to HFD-induced obese rats for 30 days, and its effect on anthropometrical, morphological, plasma cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers, along with cardiac lipid profiles was assessed.

Results

Supplementation of HFD to rats significantly increased body mass index, obesity index parameters, and cardiac lipid profile along with notable oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, BCA treatment in obese rats demonstrated a superior therapeutic action by restoring the altered parameters to almost normal levels. Simultaneously, BCA increased the activities and mRNA expressions of enzymatic antioxidants by upregulating the Nrf-2 pathway and inhibiting the NF-κB cascade.

Conclusion

BCA may attenuate obesity and its associated cardiomyopathy by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation through activation of the Nrf-2 pathway and inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• obesity cardiomyopathy
• Biochanin-A
• oxidative stress
• inflammation
• Nrf-2 pathway

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Nandha college of Pharmacy, Erode, Tamilnadu, India, for providing facilities to perform the animal studies and the management of K.S. Rangasamy College of Arts and Science (Autonomous), Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu, for their support and encouragement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, S. Vadivukkarasi.