Effect of alpha-lipoic acid and caffeine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on obesity and its complications in liver and kidney in rats

The present work investigated the effect of α-lipoic acid (ALA) and caffeine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CAF-CS NPs) on obesity and its hepatic and renal complications in rats. Rats were divided into control, rat model of obesity induced by high fat diet (HFD), and obese rats treated with ALA and/or CAF-CS NPs. At the end of the experiment, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the levels of urea, creatinine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined in the sera of animals. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in hepatic and renal tissues. Renal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase was assessed. The histopathological changes were examined in the hepatic and renal tissues. Obese rats showed a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP, urea, and creatinine. This was associated with a significant increase in IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, and NO. A significant decrease in hepatic and renal GSH and renal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity was recorded in obese rats. Obese rats also showed histopathological alterations in hepatic and renal tissues. Treatment with ALA and/or CAF-CS NPs reduced the weight of obese rats and ameliorated almost all the hepatic and renal biochemical and histopathological changes induced in obese rats. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that ALA and/or CAF-CS NPs offered an effective therapy against obesity induced by HFD and its hepatic and renal complications. The therapeutic effect of ALA and CAF-CS NPs could be mediated through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.