Anti-inflammatory effect of bergamot leaves extract attenuates cardiac remodeling in obese rats by regulating the protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis

TL;DR

Bergamot leaves extract reduces heart damage in obese rats by reducing inflammation and regulating collagen and metalloproteinase proteins.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that bergamot leaves extract attenuates cardiac remodeling in obese rats via the collagen/metalloproteinase axis.

Findings

Bergamot leaves extract improved dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and cardiac inflammation in obese rats.

BLE increased metalloproteinase-2 and decreased type III collagen in the heart tissue of obese rats.

BLE attenuated cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in obese rats.

Abstract

Inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders, including cardiac remodeling. Bergamot is known for its promising anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of bergamot leaves extract (BLE) in attenuating cardiac remodeling in obese rats through the regulation of protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis. Male Wistar rats were fed a control diet (C) or a high sugar-fat diet (HSF) for 20 weeks. After developing cardiac remodeling, the animals were again distributed into three groups to receive BLE (50 mg/kg/day) or placebo (water) via gavage for 10 weeks: C, HSF and HSF + BLE. The HSF group exhibited obesity (HSF 8.77 ± 2.64 vs C 3.09 ± 1.02, p = 0.007), dyslipidemia (HSF 94.4 ± 19.1 vs C 26.7 ± 5.2, p < 0.001), hypertension (HSF 141 ± 8 vs C 120 ± 4, p = 0.001), insulin resistance (HSF 6.91 ± 1.38 vs C 2.47 ± 1.01, p < 0.001), cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, cardiac inflammation, decreased metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (HSF 0.43 ± 0.09 vs C 0.71 ± 0.07, p = 0.009) and increased type III collagen (HSF 1.32 ± 0.27 vs C 1.00 ± 0.18, p = 0.038). In contrast, BLE was effective in improving dyslipidemia (HSF + BLE 55.2 ± 9.7 vs HSF 94.4 ± 19.1, p < 0.001), insulin resistance (HSF + BLE 3.79 ± 0.76 vs HSF 6.91 ± 1.38, p < 0.001), cardiac remodeling and function, as well as inflammation, MMP-2 (HSF + BLE 0.84 ± 0.22 vs HSF 0.43 ± 0.09, p < 0.001) and type III collagen (HSF + BLE 0.68 ± 0.11 vs HSF 1.32 ± 0.27, p < 0.001) in the HSF group. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory effect of BLE improved cardiac remodeling in obese rats through the regulation of protein expression of the collagen/metalloproteinase axis.

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