Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tart cherries (Prunus cerasus L) intake in different organs of obese rats

Background: Obesity is an issue that increases the risk of many diseases, often related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Dietary antioxidants contribute to better clinical outcomes. Methods: We estimated the oxidative grade and inflammation in the brain, heart, liver, and, white and brown adipose tissues in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats after exposure to a high-fat diet for 17 weeks compared to rats fed with a standard diet (CHOW). The effects of tart cherry seed powder (DS) and seed powder plus tart cherry juice (DJS) were explored through morphological, protein, and gene expression analysis. Results: Body weight did not differ among the obese groups. Blood pressure and glycemia decreased in DS and DJS groups compared to DIO rats. Overall, data showed that the morphological alterations in different organs were often accompanied by increased pro-oxidant state and proinflammatory markers in obese animals compared with lean rats. However, the intake of tart cherries significantly modulated these parameters. An anti-inflammatory activity was promoted from tart cherry intake, as revealed by the downregulation of analyzed endothelial cell adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines compared to obese controls. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the beneficial effects of tart cherries on obesity-associated complications in a diet-induced obese animal model, possibly due to the attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory response. The tart cherry supplementation could be useful, in combination with healthy lifestyles, to prevent obesity-related organ damage.