Effect of Curcumin Nanoemulsions Stabilized with MAG and DAG-MCFAs in a Fructose-Induced Hepatic Steatosis Rat Model

Abstract

Current changes in diet, characterized by an increase in the intake of sweetened beverages, are heavily related to metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver. This condition can produce simple steatosis and, in worse cases, potentially result in steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, comparable to the damage caused by the consumption of more or less 20–30 g of alcohol per day. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of curcumin (Curcuma longa) nanoemulsions, using mono- and diacylglycerides medium chain fatty acids as stabilizers in an in vivo hepatic steatosis rat model. Pathology was induced by providing 30% fructose intake in the drinking water. Globule sizes under 200 nm that were stable for 4 weeks were obtained; curcumin encapsulated in the nanoemulsion was >70%. The results revealed an improvement regarding body and liver weight in the animals treated with curcumin nanoemulsions. A decrease in total cholesterol, LDL, AST/ALT, and HDL in serum was observed; however, no apparent improvement regarding serum glucose or triacylglycerides values was noted. Histological analysis showed a significant decrease in the extent of steatosis, inflammation, and brown adipose tissue in the treated animals.

Curcumin nanoemulsions on the expression of fatty acid transporter proteins during hepatic steatosis

“…Here, NE particle sizes were smaller than 200 nm, and the PDI was below 1, suggesting that stability of the system was conferred by the formulated emulsifier, with a variability under 10 nm in 5 weeks of storage at 4°C, as reported in our previous research [27].…”

“…The present study was intended as a second phase of our previous research regarding the study of the effect of curcumin NE with a non-commercial emulsifier that enhanced its bioavailability [27]. The designed emulsifier consisted of MAG and DAG enriched with MCFA.…”

“…The reaction mix was placed in a Thermo MaxQ 4450 orbital shaker set at 300 rpm and 50°C for 30 minutes. The O/W curcumin NE were formulated according to the procedure described in our previous publication [27]; briefly, the oil and aqueous phases were prepared separately with their components described in Table 1. Both phases were placed in a Barnstead/Labline Aquawave 9376 (Singen, Germany) ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes, then mixed and positioned in an Ultra-Turrax T25 homogenizer for 3 minutes set at 20,000 rpm with 1-minute intervals.…”

“…Based on our previous research [27], the experimental period was extended to 20 weeks for the induction of hepatic steatosis with 30% fructose, and 5 weeks of further treatment. Briefly, 20 21-week-old male Wistar rats, supplied by the Cristóbal Colón University bioterium, were kept in individual stainless-steel cages to provide adequate housing, with controlled temperature in 12 h/12 h light/dark cycles.…”

“…The diets contained high fructose intake in rats. In this work, a longer period of fructose intake was applied and expression levels of some fatty acid transporter proteins were analyzed as an attempt to clarify some questions that were raised in our previous report [27].…”