Flavonoid-Rich Cocoa Extract Alleviates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Liver Dysfunction Induced by High-Fat Diets in Wistar Rats

Background and Objective:The escalating prevalence of metabolic disorders associated with high-fat diets emphasizes the necessity for effective nutritional interventions.Cocoa flavonoid-rich aqueous extract (CHFAE), known for its polyphenolic richness, emerges as a promising therapeutic option.This study investigates CHFAE's impact on antioxidant, inflammatory and liver enzyme bio-markers in Wistar rats subjected to a 12-week high-fat diet.Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: A normal diet (group 1), a normal diet with 600 mg/kg cocoa flavonoid extract (group 2), a high-fat diet with 600 mg/kg cocoa flavonoid extract (group 3) and an untreated high-fat diet (group 4).The CHFAE was administered orally for 14 days, after which oxidative stress biomarkers, liver function parameters and inflammatory cytokines were measured.Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: It showed a significant increase in GSH, SOD and CAT levels and a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation's MDA index compared to controls and untreated high-fat diet rats.Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-) and liver function biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP, albumin and total protein) showed significant reduction in CHAFE-treated rats compared with control.Conclusion: This study suggests that CHFAE may effectively combat oxidative stress, inflammation and liver dysfunction caused by high-fat diets, encouraging further exploration for potential health-promoting functional foods or supplements.