Inhibition of fat accumulation, lipid dysmetabolism, cardiac inflammation, and improved nitric oxide signalling mediate the protective effects of lycopene against cardio-metabolic disorder in obese female rats.

Obesity, hallmarked by excessive lipid accumulation and dysregulation, continues to escalate the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases, and is a foremost cause of deaths globally. Alternative therapeutic agents are urgently needed. This study hypothesized that lycopene could proffer beneficial effects against obesity-induced cardiometabolic changes. Obesity was induced using a Western-style diet. Female albino rats (n = 36) were randomized into 6 groups of 6 rats each: normal control, obese control, obese + lycopene (20 mg/kg body weight [b.wt.]), obese + lycopene (40 mg/kg b.wt.), lycopene (20 mg/kg b.wt.), and lycopene (40 mg/kg b.wt.). The study was 10 weeks. Obese rats had significantly higher (P< .05) body weight and total body fat. Lipids (triacylglycerol, cholesterol [CHOL], and free fatty acids), cardiac injury markers (troponin-T, creatine kinase-myocardial band, and malondialdehyde), and cardiovascular risk markers (low-density lipoprotein-CHOL, atherogenic and coronary risk indices) were significantly (P< .05) elevated in obese rats compared with control groups. However, obesity significantly reduced high-density lipoprotein-CHOL and impaired cardiac nitric oxide signalling. Pro-inflammatory mediators (nuclear factor-κB-p65, interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and IL-6) transcripts were increased in the heart of obese rats, whereas cardiac IL-10 expression was repressed. Treatment with lycopene reduced lipid concentrations, normalized lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, augmented nitric oxide concentration and IL-10 messenger RNA transcripts, and attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. These findings delineate the role of lycopene in the attenuation of cardiometabolic disorders potentiated by obesity.