Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Tumeric in a Rat Model of Obesity

Sally Salah 1* , Hanaa Ismail 2 , Dalia Tayel 2 , Neveen Agamy 2

1 Nutrition and Food Safety Department, Faculty of Apllied Health Sciences Technology,
Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt. 2 Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public
Health, Alexandria University, Egypt

*Corresponding Author Email Address: [email protected] & [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice, has been used in cooking for ages because of its flavor and color. Curcumin, the active component of turmeric has the potential to treat obesity and its complications. Objective: Assessment of the effect of turmeric consumption on some inflammatory markers, lipid profile, and total antioxidant activity in obese rats. Materials and Methods: Forty obese male and female rats were used; the control negative group was fed a standard diet and the other four groups were fed the standard diet and added melted animal abdominal fat by 20 % of the weight of rats. Both male and female rats’ groups were divided into control-positive, treated groups with curcumin (50 mg/kg body weight), and turmeric groups (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days. Result: Obese rats treated with curcumin showed the best results in weight change % compared to all treatment groups and caused significant reduction in the levels of total lipids profile. Rats treated with turmeric showed highly decrease in inflammatory markers tests and there were significant differences in the mean value of the total antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Turmeric (curcumin) could serve as a therapeutic agent for protecting against obesity-related diseases.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Curcumin, Obesity, Turmeric

Citation: Sally Salah, Hanaa Ismail, Dalia Tayel, Neveen Agamy. Antioxidant and Anti-
inflammatory Effects of Tumeric in a Rat Model of Obesity. Canadian Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. 2023; 11 (1): 76-92.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2023.01.06

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