Imperatorin attenuates cardiac remodelling and dysfunction in high-fat/high-fructose diet-fed rats by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and Nrf-2 expression

Tissue Cell. 2022 Apr:75:101728. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101728. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

Abstract

Imperatorin, an active natural furocoumarin, exerts a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of imperatorin on cardiac function and remodelling and the possible underlying mechanisms involved in high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFFD)-fed rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet plus 15 % fructose in drinking water for 16 weeks. HFFD-fed rats were treated with imperatorin (15 or 30 mg/kg/day) for the last 4 weeks. Treatment of HFFD-fed rats with imperatorin significantly reduced dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, and hypertension. Imperatorin markedly alleviated HFFD-induced cardiac morphology alterations and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Imperatorin also significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration and increased catalase activity in plasma and cardiac tissue. Additionally, decreased plasma tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 concentrations, together with restoration of cardiac nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) protein expression, were also observed after treatment with imperatorin. These findings indicated that imperatorin alleviates HFFD-induced cardiac remodelling and LV dysfunction in rats. The possible underlying mechanism may involve the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation, and the restoration of Nrf-2 expression.

Keywords: High-fat/high-fructose diet; Imperatorin; Inflammation; Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2; Oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diet, High-Fat* / adverse effects
  • Fructose / adverse effects
  • Furocoumarins* / pharmacology
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Ventricular Remodeling

Substances

  • Furocoumarins
  • Fructose
  • imperatorin