title: Grape seed and skin extract as an adjunct to xenical therapy reduces obesity, brain lipotoxicity and oxidative stress in high fat diet fed rats.
abstract: Obesity is a public health problem and a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of grape seed and skin extract (GSSE) and Xenical (Xe) on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and brain lipotoxicity.
  
  
  
  Rats were rendered obese and then treated either with vehicle (control) or GSSE (4g/kg bw) or Xe (1, 2, 4 or 8mg/kg bw) or (GSSE+Xe) and monitored for weight loss during 3 months. Animals were then sacrificed and their brain utilised for the evaluation of lipotoxicity-induced oxidative stress as well as the putative protection offered by GSSE and Xe treatment.
  
  
  
  As expected HFD-induced body and adipose tissue weight gain, dyslipidemia, accumulation of lipid into the brain, a drop in adiponectin, increased oxidative stress and disruption of Mn, Ca2+and of related enzyme activities as glutamine synthetase and calpain. Xe alone exerted anti-obesity effect during the first 2 months and became inefficient thereafter. GSSE per se exhibited potent anti-obesity effect whereas the combination (GSSE+Xe), by acting in concert, was the most efficient against obesity and brain lipotoxicity. GSSE acted partially through its anti-oxidative properties, whereas Xe did not.
  
  
  
  Combining GSSE with Xe improved outcomes in body weight and fat reduction as well as in brain lipotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, 7021 Jarzouna, Tunisia; Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam Lif, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, 7021 Jarzouna, Tunisia; Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam Lif, Tunisia. Electronic address: charradi3@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charradi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam Lif, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ferid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Limam
authors.affiliation: University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, 7021 Jarzouna, Tunisia; Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam Lif, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ezzedine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aouani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D056604:Grape Seed Extract / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000077403:Orlistat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D056604:Grape Seed Extract; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000077403:Orlistat
keywords: Brain; Grape seed and skin extract; Obesity; Oxidative stress; Xenical