Abstract
ZnO/KCl nanocomposite was prepared by solgel to appreciate the role of synthesized ZnO-NPs to curb obesity in a high-fat diet rat model. KCl played an important role in decreasing the particle size (30 nm) and also in facilitating the suspension formation of ZnO-NPs. XRD and HRTEM were carried out to estimate the particle size while SEM was used to investigate the morphology of the nanoparticles. XPS measurements were used to examine the chemical compositions of the nanocomposite. XRD declared that ZnO has a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The Rietveld refinement has also been executed (chi(2) = 1.0 and R-factor was 0.05). The treatment of obese rats with ZnO-NPs enhanced the adiponectin level, hepatic carnitine (Car) and reduced hepatic glutathione (GSH) with lowering the liver enzymes and pathological changes. The treatment coused a decrease in body weight gain, Body mass index (BMI), leptin level, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, immunohistochemistry for nuclear factor kappa (NF kappa B), the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and a reduction in hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG). The results indicated a positive correlation between BMI and oxidative stress parameters. In conclusion, ZnO-NPs manifested valuable anti-obesity effects via lowering body weight gain, oxidative stress, BMI, lipids, and insulin resistance.