Hosny_2024_Int.Immunopharmacol_129_111627

The current research aims to study the therapeutic efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid (alpha-LA) and caffeine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Caf-CNs) against cardiovascular complications induced by obesity. Rats were divided randomly into: control, high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity rat model, obese rats treated with alpha-LA and/or Caf-CNs. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as well as activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) significantly increased in the serum of obese rats. In addition, plasma atherogenic index, atherogenic coefficient and Castelli's risk indices I and II showed a significant increase. Additionally, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) were significantly elevated in heart tissues of obese rats. However, cardiac Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH), serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) as well as serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly reduced in obese rats. Treatment with alpha-LA and/or Caf-CNs ameliorated almost all the biochemical and histopathological alterations caused by obesity. In conclusion, the present data revealed that alpha-LA and/or Caf-CNs may be an effective therapeutic approach against cardiac complications caused by obesity through their antilipemic, anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities.