The potency of Thymus vulgaris seed extract in alleviating obesity complications and iron overload in obese rats

• Published in: Journal of functional foods Vol. 121; p. 106416
• Main Authors: Abdelmottaleb Moussa, Sherif A., Ibrahim, Fatma A.A., Abd Elbaset, Marawan, Aziz, Samir W., Abd El-Latif, Noha A., Afifi, Sherif M., Esatbeyoglu, Tuba, El Toumy, Sayed A., Salib, Josline Y., AE Bashandy, Samir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adipose tissues; Antioxidant enzymes; Hepcidin; Iron overload; LC-MS; Lipid Profile; Obesity; Adipose tissues; Iron overload; Obesity; LC-MS; Antioxidant enzymes; Hepcidin; Lipid Profile
• ISSN: 1756-4646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2024.106416

[Display omitted] •Iron overload is a potent oxidative stress parameter in obesity.•T. vulgaris seed extract against iron overload in obesity has not discussed before.•T. vulgaris seed extract improved anthropometric parameters and lipid profile.•T. vulgaris seed extract ameliorated iron overload parameters.•T. vulgaris seed extract significantly balanced trace elements in adipose tissues.•T. vulgaris seed extract is very effective and safe in iron overload treatment. Natural products have long been recognized as valuable sources of bioactive compounds in therapeutic agents. Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as thyme and belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is widely distributed and extensively used in Egyptian folk medicine for its antibroncholitic, antispasmodic, carminative, and diuretic properties. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of T. vulgaris seed extract in mitigating obesity-induced iron overload in rats. Given its potent bioactive constituents, this study aimed to investigate the impact of T. vulgaris seed extract on iron overload associated with obesity by evaluating lipid profiles, iron status parameters—including plasma ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), plasma transferrin, transferrin saturation percentage (TS%), and hepcidin gene expression in adipose tissue. About 30 flavonoids were identified in T. vulgaris seed extract using LC-MS. Among these, methoxyflavonoids were the most abundant metabolites. The administration of T. vulgaris seed extract to obese rats resulted in significant reductions in anthropometric features, hepcidin gene expression, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), TIBC, plasma ferritin, leptin, and iron and copper content in adipose tissue. Moreover, treatment with T. vulgaris extract led to a notable decrease in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (76.33 ± 4.31 ng/L and 40.83 ± 1.82 ng/L for low and high doses, respectively) compared to the obese control group (110.83 ± 5.82 ng/L). Conversely, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly increased with T. vulgaris supplementation (123.6 ± 7.9 µg/L and 217.4 ± 6.1 µg/L for low and high doses, respectively) compared to the obese group (54.6 ± 4.9 µg/L). Additionally, adipose tissue zinc levels were significantly elevated in response to T. vulgaris supplementation (2.54 ± 0.20 µg/g and 3.75 ± 0.14 µg/g for low and high doses, respectively) compared to the obese group (1.45 ± 0.23 µg/g). Our findings suggest that T. vulgaris could be a promising novel therapeutic agent for managing obesity-induced iron overload.