The Anti-Obesity and Anti-Steatotic Effects of Chrysin in a Rat Model of Obesity Mediated through Modulating the Hepatic AMPK/mTOR/lipogenesis Pathways.

Thirty-two Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: the control group and the obese group. Obesity was induced by feeding with an obesogenic diet for 3 months. The obese rats were subdivided into four subgroups, comprising an untreated group, and three groups treated orally with different doses of chrysin (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg/day for one month). Results revealed that chrysin treatment markedly ameliorated the histological changes and significantly and dose-dependently reduced the weight gain, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in the obese rats. Chrysin, besides its antioxidant boosting effects (increased GSH and decreased malondialdehyde), activated the AMPK pathway and suppressed the mTOR and lipogenic pathways, and stimulated expression of the genes controlling mitochondrial biogenesis in the hepatic tissues in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, chrysin could be a promising candidate for the treatment of obesity and associated NAFLD, aiding in attenuating weight gain and ameliorating glucose and lipid homeostasis and adipokines, boosting the hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis, and modulating AMPK/mTOR/SREBP-1c signaling pathways.