Protective effect of citrus lemon on inflammation and adipokine levels in acrylamide-induced oxidative stress in rats

The high exposure to acrylamide (AA) due to smoking and increased consumption of processed and fast foods in recent years, has become one of the health threatening problems. This study examined the effect of lemon juice on inflammation and adipokines in acrylamide-induced oxidative stress in rats. Forty animals were divided into five groups. Toxicity was induced by AA (35mg/kg) for two weeks in all groups except normal control group. After that, lemon juice in three doses was administrated to treatment groups for 4 weeks. Serum levels of adipokines and inflammatory parameters and both serum and liver levels of oxidative stress parameters were measured. The results showed groups were received AA had significant higher levels of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor alpha, leptin and C-reactive protein and lower levels of total antioxidant capacity compared to the negative control group. Lemon juice in all three doses significantly improved serum levels of TAC, MDA, TNFα and hs-CRP in treated groups. Also, 7.5 ml/kg lemon juice significantly decreased leptin levels. However, lemon juice had no significant effect on adiponectin levels. This study suggests lemon juice as a potential dietary alternative could attenuate leptin levels and manage oxidative and inflammatory damages in acrylamide- induced toxicity in rats.