Metabolic and Hepatorenal Modulatory Effects of Coriander Seeds in an Experimental Model of Obesity in Rats

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder associated with disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism and impaired hepatic and renal function. Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander) seeds contain bioactive phytochemicals with antioxidant and potentially beneficial metabolic activities. However, evidence regarding the effects of whole coriander seeds on obesity-associated metabolic and hepatorenal disturbances remains limited. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with powdered coriander seeds at different inclusion levels on metabolic, hepatic, and renal biomarkers in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Methods: Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 4/group): negative control, obese control, and three obese groups receiving diets supplemented with 2%, 4%, or 5% powdered coriander seeds. Obesity was induced using a high-fat diet, followed by a 28-day dietary intervention. Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were assessed. Serum glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, total protein, albumin, uric acid, urea, and creatinine were determined. Proximate composition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity of coriander powder were also evaluated.

Results: Coriander powder exhibited measurable phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity. Supplementation reduced body weight gain and improved serum glucose and lipid profiles, with lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL-C and higher HDL-C. It also attenuated elevations in ALT, AST, and ALP and improved total protein and albumin concentrations. Furthermore, coriander supplementation reduced elevated serum uric acid, urea, and creatinine levels in obese rats. Beneficial changes were generally more pronounced at higher supplementation levels.

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with powdered Coriandrum sativum seeds was associated with favorable metabolic, hepatic, and renal biochemical changes in high-fat diet-induced obese rats, supporting their potential as a functional dietary component for modulating obesity-associated metabolic disturbances.