title: Combined treatment with caffeic and ferulic acid from Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) protects against metabolic syndrome in mice.
abstract: Fractionation of the EtOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) led to isolation of caffeic and ferulic acids, which were identified from spectroscopic and spectrometric evidence. These compounds exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to be effective in the prevention/treatment of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated whether the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids exhibits a more significant beneficial effect in a mouse model with metabolic syndrome. The combination treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids was tested for 60 days in C57 mice kept on a high-fat (40%) diet. The data obtained indicated that treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids prevented gain in body weight induced by the high-fat diet and improved hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The expression of a number of metabolically relevant genes was affected in the liver of these animals, showing that caffeic and ferulic acid treatment results in increased cholesterol uptake and reduced hepatic triglyceride synthesis in the liver, which is a likely explanation for the prevention of hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids displayed major positive effects towards prevention of multiple aspects of the metabolic syndrome and liver steatosis in an obese mouse model.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Bocco
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Fernandes
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: F B
authors: FB
authors: Lorena
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Cysneiros
authors: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal de ABC, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Christoffolete
authors: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal de ABC, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Grecco
authors: Departmento de Ciências Patológicas da Escola de Ciências Médicas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Lancellotti
authors: Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Romoff
authors: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: J H G
authors: JH
authors: Lago
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rush University and Medical Center, IL, USA.
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Bianco
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: M O
authors: MO
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031175:Baccharis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D020011:Protective Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; C004999:ferulic acid; C040048:caffeic acid