Effects of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) on Renal Health: Comparison Between Leaf and Fruit in Animals with Dyslipidemia

• Grant number: 25/01524-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Camila Renata Corrêa
• Grantee: Caíque Manentti Caccia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

High sugar and saturated fats diets are associated with metabolic complications, systemic inflammation, and overweight, which promote the development of diseases such as dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dyslipidemia, characterized by alterations in plasma lipid levels, results in oxidative stress and inflammation, impacting vital organs, including the kidneys. Bioactive compounds from Citrus bergamia (bergamot) have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may mitigate metabolic and renal damage associated with dyslipidemia. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential and differences between the effects of bergamot leaves and fruit on rats' kidneys with dyslipidemia. Wistar rats will initially be allocated into two groups: Control diet (C, n = 21) and high-sugar-fat diet (HSF, n = 21) for 20 weeks. After this period, the animals will be redistributed into six experimental groups to receive the respective treatments with leaf extract (50 mg/kg) or fruit extract (250 mg/kg), administered daily by gavage: Control diet (C, n = 7), Control diet with bergamot leaf extract (C + Le, n = 7), Control diet with bergamot fruit extract (C + Fr, n = 7), HSF diet (HSF, n = 7), HSF diet with bergamot leaf extract (HSHF + Le, n = 7), and HSF diet with bergamot fruit extract (HSHF + Fr, n = 7), for 10 weeks, totaling 30 weeks of the experiment. The animals will be analyzed for nutritional, metabolic, and hormonal profiles, as well as renal function and oxidative stress. Data will be presented through descriptive measures of position and variability and analyzed using specific comparative tests.