Bergamot Leaf Extract Is Associated With Reduced Hepatic DNA Strand Breaks in Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Abstract

Obesity is a major global public health challenge associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. Although natural antioxidant compounds have been investigated to mitigate obesity-related molecular damage, the effects of bergamot (Citrus bergamia) leaf extract (BLE) on DNA integrity remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of BLE on hepatic DNA damage in diet-induced obese rats. Forty Wistar rats were fed either a control or a high-sugar-fat (HSF) diet and treated with BLE by oral gavage. The adiposity index was recorded for all groups, and hepatic DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. The HSF diet significantly increased both the adiposity index and DNA strand breaks in the liver compared with the control group. Notably, BLE treatment was associated with a lower adiposity index and reduced hepatic DNA strand breaks measured by the comet assay in obese rats (p < 0.05). These findings indicate an association between BLE treatment and reduced hepatic DNA damage in this model of diet-induced obesity.