The literature has reported a higher prevalence of negative clinical outcomes due to Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) in obese individuals. This can be explained by the cytokine storm, result from the cytokine production from both obesity and viral infection. Gamma-oryzanol (γOz) is a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, little is known about the γOz action as a possible agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that γOz attenuates the cytokine storm by stimulating PPAR-γ in the adipose tissue. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups and fed ad libitum for 30 weeks with control diet (C, n = 6), high sugar- fat diet (HSF, n = 6) or high sugar- fat diet + γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 6). HSF groups also received water + sucrose (25%). The γOz dose was 0.5% in the chow. Evaluation in animals included caloric intake, body weight, adiposity index, plasma triglycerides, and HOMA-IR. In adipose tissue was evaluated: PPAR-γ gene and protein expression, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, and histological analysis. Results Adipose tissue dysfunction was observed in HSF group, which presented remarkable PPAR-γ underexpression and increased levels of cytokines, other inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. The γOz treatment prevented adipose tissue dysfunction and promoted PPAR-γ overexpression. Conclusion Natural compounds as γOz can be considered a coadjutant therapy to prevent the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients with obesity conditions.

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(1) Background: The bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress are important events related to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE). In this present study, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of glibenclamide (GB) on the NO synthesis, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity in endothelial cells incubated with plasma from preeclamptic (PE) and normotensive pregnant women (NT). (2) Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with a plasma pool from 10 NT and 10 PE pregnant women; NO/NOx quantification and ROS levels were assessed by a fluorescence compound; lipid peroxidation was evaluated employing thiobarbituric acid (TBA); and total antioxidant capacity was measured by ferric reduction ability power (FRAP) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). (3) Results: We found that endothelial cells incubated with plasma from PE showed lower NO and NOx levels compared with the NT group. However, GB treatment increased these levels, as well as the antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, a decrease was observed in ROS generation and lipid peroxidation (4) Conclusions: The GB treatment exerted a positive effect on the NO/NOx production by HUVEC incubated with plasma from NT and PE pregnant women, as well as in the reduction in oxidative stress and increase in the antioxidant capacity.

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The excessive consumption of diets rich in sugar and fat is associated with metabolic manifestations involving adipose tissue and the liver. Bergamot, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been used to treat metabolic disorders. This work aimed to verify the effect of Bergamot leaves extract (BLE) on the crosstalk in the adipose tissue–liver axis of obese rats. For 20 weeks, Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control (Control) and high sugar–fat (HSF) diet groups. Afterwards, the animals were redistributed into three groups for 10 weeks: control diet + vehicle (Control, n = 08), HSF + vehicle (HSF, n = 08), and HSF + BLE (HSF + BLE, n = 08). The BLE was carried out daily by gavage (50 mg/kg). The HSF group presented obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hepatic microvesicular steatosis, higher inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver and adipose tissue. In comparison to the HSF group, HSF + BLE animals showed protection by reducing the triglyceride levels, insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress in hepatic and adipose tissues. BLE acted on the inflammation and oxidative stress in the adipose tissue–liver axis in obese rats when compared to the HSF group, which may have reflected on the improvement of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.