A 100 mg/kg Dose of Naringenin as an Anti-Obesity Agent for Eight Weeks Exerts No Apparent Hepatotoxic or Nephrotoxic Effects in Wistar Rats

Naringenin (NAR) is a naturally occurring flavanone characteristic of citrus fruits and other foods whose anti-obesity effects have been reported. As a dietary xenobiotic, it is metabolized and excreted mainly by the liver and kidneys, respectively. Since an organism does not normally consume pure phenolic compounds, there are concerns about its safety when administered as such. The present work reports an analysis on the safety of consuming NAR as an anti-obesity agent (100 mg/kg body weight) alongside a Western diet (WD) during an eight-week period, according to various serum biochemical markers of liver and kidney function in Wistar rats. Blood samples were analyzed to determine liver function, including enzyme activity (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP), bilirubin, and albumin. Biochemical markers of kidney function were urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, and electrolytes. Results show that a 100 mg/kg oral dose of NAR for eight weeks exerted no apparent hepato- or nephrotoxicity, suggesting a suitable safety profile at said dose, since all variables analyzed remained within normal reference limits in NAR-treated animals. Urea, BUN, and ALP showed significant differences between the WD and the control group fed a basal diet (BD), although this was independent of NAR (<i>p</i> < 0.05, WD and WD + NAR vs. BD and BD + NAR), suggesting that diet played a role. The data support the previously reported hepatoprotective effects of NAR and suggest a favorable safety profile. Altogether, the findings indicate that pure NAR may be safe at the dose employed and during the analyzed time period, which further supports the need for clinical studies to validate its application in human consumers.