Galangin Resolves Cardiometabolic Disorders Through Modulation of AdipoR1/COX-2/ NF-κB Expressions in High-Fat Diet Fed Rats

Abstract Background: Rats fed with a high-fat diet exerts signs of cardiometabolic disorders. Galangin is a natural flavonoid mainly isolated from honey and Alpinia officinarum Hance and has various biological activities. This study evaluated whether galangin could alleviate cardiometabolic disorders, inflammation and oxidative stress in a high-fat diet fed rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a high-fat diet plus 15% fructose in drinking water for 4 months to induced signs of metabolic syndrome (MS), and they were treated with galangin at a dose 25 or 50 mg/kg or metformin at a dose 100 mg/kg or vehicle for the last four weeks. All data were expressed as mean ± S.E.M. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons analysis.Results: Rats fed with a high-fat diet had impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertrophy of adipocytes, impaired liver function and hypertension. These signs of MS were alleviated by galangin or metformin treatment (p<0.05). Galangin or metformin alleviated cardiac dysfunction and remodeling induced by a high-fat diet in rats (p<0.05). Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 concentrations and expression were high in plasma and cardiac tissue in MS rats, and these inflammatory markers were suppressed by galangin or metformin treatment (p<0.05). Galangin alleviated a high-fat diet induced low levels of adiponectin in rats. Galangin or metformin decreased oxidative stress biomarkers, aortic superoxide generation and plasma and cardiac MDA levels, and raised endogenous antioxidant enzume activities, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, in MS rats (p<0.05). Downregulation of adiponectin receptor1 (AdipoR1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression were observed in MS rats. These alterations of protein expressions were recovered in MS rats treated with galangin or metformin. Conclusions: Galangin reduced cardiometabolic disorders in high-fat diet induced MS rats. The underlying mechanisms might be relevant to suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress and restoration of AdipoR1/COX-2/NF-κB expression.