Biochanin A attenuates obesity cardiomyopathy in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation through the Nrf-2 pathway

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the effect of biochanin A (BCA) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity cardiomyopathy. METHODS: BCA (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered to HFD-induced obese rats for 30 days, and its effect on anthropometrical, morphological, plasma cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers, along with cardiac lipid profiles was assessed. RESULTS: Supplementation of HFD to rats significantly increased body mass index, obesity index parameters, and cardiac lipid profile along with notable oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, BCA treatment in obese rats demonstrated a superior therapeutic action by restoring the altered parameters to almost normal levels. Simultaneously, BCA increased the activities and mRNA expressions of enzymatic antioxidants by upregulating the Nrf-2 pathway and inhibiting the NF-κB cascade. CONCLUSION: BCA may attenuate obesity and its associated cardiomyopathy by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation through activation of the Nrf-2 pathway and inhibition of NF-κB activation.