Synergistic effect of ferulic acid and caffeic acid on metabolic syndrome and immune response in rats

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the synergistic modulatory effects of ferulic acid (FA) in combination with caffeic acid (CA) on the immune response and metabolic syndrome in male rats fed high-fat diets (HFD).Material and Methods: Forty-five adult male albino rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into five groups: G1, controls fed basal fat diet (BFD); G2, high-fat modified diet containing 20% fat (HFD); G3, rats fed HFD and received FA (150 mg/day) orally; G4, rats fed HFD supplemented with CA (0.8 g/ 100 g diet), and G5, Rats fed HFD and received both FA (150 mg/day) and CA (0.8 g/ 100 g diet).Results: Serum concentrations of TG, TC, LDL-c, glucose, insulin, oxidative stress biomarkers, and proinflammatory cytokines were elevated in rats fed a high -fat diet compared with the BFD group. Significant adjustments were observed after the administration of FA and CA. The maximum improvement was viewed in rats administered with CA in combination with FA.Discussion: FA and CA significantly counteracted the pronounced oxidative stress effect of HFD by the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, restoration of antioxidant status, and metabolic syndrome biomarker levels. In conclusion, these findings indicate the synergistic protective effect of FA and CA on risk factors that can lead to metabolic syndrome and immune response imbalance during HFD-associated oxidative stress in rats.