Broccoli extract improves high fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance in Wistar rats

• Main Authors: Paula Aranaz, David Navarro-Herrera, Ana Romo-Hualde, María Zabala, Miguel López-Yoldi, Carolina González-Ferrero, Ana Gloria Gil, J. Alfredo Martinez, José Luis Vizmanos, Fermín I. Milagro, Carlos J. González-Navarro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-08-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Glucosinolates; Bioactive compounds; C. elegans; Insulin resistance; Fatty liver; Srebf1
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464619303160

Brassicaceae contain bioactive compounds with potential positive effects on metabolic syndrome. Here, we evaluated the eventual anti-obesity properties of an ethanolic broccoli extract (BE), selected by a tested ability to reduce Caenorhabditis elegans fat content. Two doses (14 and 140 mg/kg animal) of BE were evaluated in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) Wistar rat model.After 10 weeks of BE supplementation, animals exhibited reduced body weight gain and food efficiency, decreased atherogenic index of plasma and improved glucose tolerance in comparison with non-supplemented rats. BE also reduced the retroperitoneal fat mass and adipocyte size, all associated to down-regulation of Cebpa, Srebp1, Fasn and Adipoq expression in adipocytes. Finally, BE significantly decreased liver steatosis, accompanied by the up-regulation of Acot8 and Acox1, and the down-regulation of Fasn, Fatp4 and Srebf1 expression in hepatocytes. Our data provides new knowledge about the potential role of broccoli components in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.