Molecules, Vol. 28, Pages 2025: Yohimbine Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Suppresses Aerobic Cysteine Metabolism Elevated in the Rat Liver of High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Molecules, Vol. 28, Pages 2025: Yohimbine Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Suppresses Aerobic Cysteine Metabolism Elevated in the Rat Liver of High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules28052025 Authors: Małgorzata Iciek Magdalena Górny Magdalena Kotańska Anna Bilska-Wilkosz Marta Kaczor-Kamińska Jacek Zagajewski Yohimbine is a small indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the yohimbe tree with documented biological activity, including anti-inflammatory, erectile dysfunction relieving, and fat-burning properties. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfane sulfur-containing compounds are regarded as important molecules in redox regulation and are involved in many physiological processes. Recently, their role in the pathophysiology of obesity and obesity-induced liver injury was also reported. The aim of the present study was to verify whether the mechanism of biological activity of yohimbine is related to reactive sulfur species formed during cysteine catabolism. We tested the effect of yohimbine at doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg/day administered for 30 days on aerobic and anaerobic catabolism of cysteine and oxidative processes in the liver of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Our study revealed that HFD resulted in a decrease in cysteine and sulfane sulfur levels in the liver, while sulfates were elevated. In the liver of obese rats, rhodanese expression was diminished while lipid peroxidation increased. Yohimbine did not influence sulfane sulfur and ...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research