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Research Article


Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance

Wafa S. Alansari, Mahran Mohamed Abd El-emam, Rawan Altalhi, Safaa I. Khater, Tarek Khamis, Hoda S. Sherkawy, Abdelhamid M. Fares, Marwa M. Lotfy, Ola Mohammed Youssef, Engy Mohamed Mohamed Yassin.


Abstract
Background:
Obesity spurred by a high-fat diet (HFD) has emerged as a significant worldwide health issue. Caffeic acid (CA) is a plant-derived phenolic compound found in various foods such as coffee, wine, and tea. It exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. However, the therapeutic potential of this substance is hindered by its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability.

Aim:
In this study, CA was loaded into liposomes (CA-Lip) and the potential role of CA-Lip in mitigating HFD-induced obesity in rats was examined.

Methods:
Forty male Wistar rats were used in this investigation. They were allocated into four groups: the first was fed a regular diet; the second received a normal diet plus CA-Lip; the third received an HFD; and the fourth received both an HFD and CA-Lip.

Results:
The developed CA-Lip showed a particle size of 125 nm, zeta potential of − 15 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 82%. The HFD+CA-Lip group's body weight was considerably lower than that of the HFD group. The HFD+CA-Lip group also showed a significant improvement in their serum lipid profiles. CA-Lip lowered levels of adipokines, which encourage inflammation, including leptin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. It also reduced the size of the adipocytes when compared to the HFD control group. Furthermore, it reversed the HFD-induced upregulation of Hh genes (protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1), Hh-interacting protein (HHIP), glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1), and smoothened (Smo) receptor) in adipose tissue.

Conclusion:
In summary, CA-Lip may reduce obesity and related inflammation by activating the Hh signaling pathway.

Key words: Caffeic Acid; Liposomes ; Obesity; Lipid; Adipokines; Hhog Pathway.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alansari WS, El-emam MMA, Altalhi R, Khater SI, Khamis T, Sherkawy HS, Fares AM, Lotfy MM, Youssef OM, Yassin EMM. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Vet. J.. 2025; 15(10): 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13

Web Style

Alansari WS, El-emam MMA, Altalhi R, Khater SI, Khamis T, Sherkawy HS, Fares AM, Lotfy MM, Youssef OM, Yassin EMM. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=264853 [Access: October 31, 2025]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alansari WS, El-emam MMA, Altalhi R, Khater SI, Khamis T, Sherkawy HS, Fares AM, Lotfy MM, Youssef OM, Yassin EMM. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Vet. J.. 2025; 15(10): 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alansari WS, El-emam MMA, Altalhi R, Khater SI, Khamis T, Sherkawy HS, Fares AM, Lotfy MM, Youssef OM, Yassin EMM. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Vet. J.. (2025), [cited October 31, 2025]; 15(10): 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


Harvard Style

Alansari, W. S., El-emam, . M. M. A., Altalhi, . R., Khater, . S. I., Khamis, . T., Sherkawy, . H. S., Fares, . A. M., Lotfy, . M. M., Youssef, . O. M. & Yassin, . E. M. M. (2025) Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Vet. J., 15 (10), 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


Turabian Style

Alansari, Wafa S., Mahran Mohamed Abd El-emam, Rawan Altalhi, Safaa I. Khater, Tarek Khamis, Hoda S. Sherkawy, Abdelhamid M. Fares, Marwa M. Lotfy, Ola Mohammed Youssef, and Engy Mohamed Mohamed Yassin. 2025. Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Veterinary Journal, 15 (10), 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


Chicago Style

Alansari, Wafa S., Mahran Mohamed Abd El-emam, Rawan Altalhi, Safaa I. Khater, Tarek Khamis, Hoda S. Sherkawy, Abdelhamid M. Fares, Marwa M. Lotfy, Ola Mohammed Youssef, and Engy Mohamed Mohamed Yassin. "Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance." Open Veterinary Journal 15 (2025), 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alansari, Wafa S., Mahran Mohamed Abd El-emam, Rawan Altalhi, Safaa I. Khater, Tarek Khamis, Hoda S. Sherkawy, Abdelhamid M. Fares, Marwa M. Lotfy, Ola Mohammed Youssef, and Engy Mohamed Mohamed Yassin. "Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance." Open Veterinary Journal 15.10 (2025), 4936-4948. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alansari, W. S., El-emam, . M. M. A., Altalhi, . R., Khater, . S. I., Khamis, . T., Sherkawy, . H. S., Fares, . A. M., Lotfy, . M. M., Youssef, . O. M. & Yassin, . E. M. M. (2025) Therapeutic efficacy of liposomal caffeic acid in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats: Targeting hedgehog signalling pathway, adipokines, and insulin resistance. Open Veterinary Journal, 15 (10), 4936-4948. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.13


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