Anti-obesity effects of individual or combination treatment with Spirulina platensis and green coffee bean aqueous extracts in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Background: Obesity is associated with serious health risks, including premature mortality. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of individual or combination treatment with Spirulina platensis and green coffee bean aqueous extracts in high-fat diet-induced (HFD) obese rats. Methods: Rats were fed on HFD to induce obesity. Corn oil in the HFD accounted for 50.98% of the calories. Fifty rats were divided into five groups (10 rats/group): control, HFD, HFD-Spirulina, HFD-coffee, HFD-Spirulina and coffee cotreatment groups. The serum levels of lipid, leptin, and insulin, as well as the hepatic mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha), and peroxisome proliferator-activated alpha receptor (PPAR alpha) were estimated. Results: The Spirulina and/or green coffee bean aqueous extracts decreased the final bodyweight and liver weight, and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. The extracts decreased the serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, leptin, and glucose, and enhanced the serum insulin level. Furthermore, the extracts enhanced the PGC-1 alpha and PPAR alpha mRNA levels and decreased the FAS mRNA levels. Conclusion: The individual or combination treatment with Spirulina platensis and green coffee bean extracts decreased obesity-induced hyperlipidemia and they can be potentially used to treat obesity. Abbreviations: ACC: Acetyl Co-A carboxylase; AF: Activity factor; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ALT: Alanine amino transferase; AMP: Adenosine monophosphate; AMPK: AMP activated protein kinase; AST: Aspartate amino transferase; BMI: Body mass index; cAMP: Cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CBE: Coffee bean extract; CVD: Cardiovascular disorder; DRD4: Dopamine receptor D4; FAS: Fatty acid synthase; FFA: Free fatty acid; FTO: Fat mass and obesity gene; GOD: Glucose oxidase; G-6-P: Glucose-6-phosphatase; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HFD: High-fat diet; HMGRCR: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LXR alpha: Liver X receptor alpha; MC4R: Melanocortin 4 receptor gene'; NO: Nitric oxide; PGC-1 alpha: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha; PPAR alpha: Peroxisome proliferator-activated alpha; PPAR gamma: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; REE: Resting energy expenditure; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; TC: Total cholesterol; T2DM: Type 2 diabetes; TG: Triacyl glycerol; TP: Total protein; VLDL: Very low-density lipoprotein; WLS: Weight loss surgery