Role of Chitosan Nanoparticles loaded with Pomegranate Peels Extract on High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease that is widespread throughout the world. Pomegranate is a fruit that has proven to provide beneficial health effects due to its high nutritional content and bioactive antioxidants. The current study aims to investigate the effect of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with pomegranate peel extract (PPE-CSNPs) on high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity in male rats. Methods: Obesity was induced by feeding a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Thirty rats were assigned into five main groups (6 rats/group) as follows: control (dist. water, orally), HFD control (dist. water, orally), HFD + pomegranate peel extract (PPE) (500 mg/kg, orally), HFD + chitosan-NP (60 mg/kg, orally), and HFD + PPE-CSNPs (60 mg/kg, orally). Results: The treatment of PPE-CSNPs decreased body weight, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, while high density lipoprotein- cholesterol, glutathione reduced and catalase levels increased. The histological examination revealed a significant enhancement in the structures of the liver and kidneys. Discussion: The antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities of PPE-CS surpassed those of PPE or CS individually, confirming the synergistic effect in obesity. conclusion: The combination of pomegranate extract with chitosan in the form nanoparticles enhances their hypolipidemic efficacy in the treatment of obese rats. Conclusion: The combination of pomegranate extract with chitosan in the form of nanoparticles enhances their hypolipidemic efficacy in the treatment of obese rats. PPE-CSNPs are promising nanonatural products that could be used in obesity management.