Glycyrrhizin ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity in rats by activating NrF2 pathway

Obesity based on insulin resistance is a state of chronic oxidative stress and inflammation that are highly regulated through nuclear factor Erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NrF2) pathway. 70 male Wistar rats were randomized into two models. The prophylactic model was 10weeks and rats were grouped into: normal group, GL group (received glycyrrhizin 50mg/kg/day orally along with normal pellet diet), HFD group and HFD+ GL group (received glycyrrhizin along with HFD). The treatment model was 14weeks and rats were grouped into: normal group, HFD group and HFD+GL group (received glycyrrhizin from the week 10). Glycyrrhizin decreased significantly rat weights and insulin resistance, normalized lipid profile and reduced significantly the adipocytes size in adipose tissue and lipid deposition in the liver tissue through histopathologic examination. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin ameliorated obesity-induced oxidative stress which indicated by significant decrease in liver malondialdehyde level (P