| Summary: | This study was conducted to investigate the pharmacological activity of cocoa polyphenols (CPs) on visceral obesity markers and the possible mechanisms. In this study, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). After 12 wk of diet intervention, only one group of HFD rats (n = 10/group) were treated at a dose of 600 mg/kg bw/day CPs (HFD + CPs) for 4 wk. The gene and protein expression levels of phosphorylation of AMPK-activated protein kinase α/β (AMPK α/β) were measured using real time-PCR and Western blotting. The mRNA expression of lipogenic key enzymes (Acaca, Fasn, Mcat, and Scd-1), and β-oxidation key enzymes (CPT1, Prkaa1, Acox1) were investigated. In addition, the upstream transcription factors (PPARα, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP-1c) were also examined. In accordance with these findings, CPs treatment improved visceral adiposity, adipocytes hypertrophy, and liver steatosis. AMP-activated protein kinase α/β (AMPK α/β) phosphorylation in liver and adipose tissue of HFD + CPs-treated rats was activated compared with HFD-fed rats. The expression of lipogensis related-genes was decreased, while expression levels of β-oxidation-related genes were increased compared with HFD-fed rats. Together, these data partially unravel the ameliorative effects of CPs treatment on visceral obesity markers by inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting β-oxidation related-genes through activation of the AMPK pathway.
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