Lycopene ameliorates hyperlipidemia via potentiation of AMP-activated protein kinase and inhibition of ATP-citrate lyase in diabetic hyperlipidemic rat model

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2022-11, Vol.308, p.120934-120934, Article 120934
• Main Authors: Elseweidy, Mohamed M., Elawady, Alaa S., Sobh, Mohammed S., Elnagar, Gehad M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AMPK-P; Atorvastatin; ATP citrate lyase; Hyperlipidemia; Lycopene
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120934

The present study aimed mainly to demonstrate the metabolic effects of lycopene (LYC) or atorvastatin (ATOR) in diabetic hyperlipidemic rat model. Rats were randomly classified into four groups; the first was fed normal chow diet (NC) while the other three groups received streptozotocin (STZ) along with CCT-diet. The second group received no treatment (diabetic hyperlipidemic control, DHC), the third one received ATOR (50 mg/kg/day) while the fourth one received LYC (20 mg/kg/day). Serum and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological evaluations. DHC rats demonstrated significant hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, increased hepatic fatty acid synthetase (FAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY). However, hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and phosphorylated form of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK-P) activities showed significant decreases. ATOR or LYC administration induced hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects; decreased hepatic levels of MDA, TNF-α, HMG-CoA reductase, ACLY and FAS along with GSH and AMPK-P increases. Histopathological findings showed clear correlation with the biomarkers results. LYC demonstrated favorable significant effects regarding the biomarkers studied as compared to ATOR and may be expressed as a potent therapeutic agent of natural origin for hyperlipidemia complications either alone or in combination with other hypolipidemic drugs.