Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with high-fat diet (HFD) intake involves oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and genotoxicity. Carvacrol, a natural monoterpenoid phenol, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, but its clinical application is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Chitosan nanoparticles, known for their biocompatibility and ability to enhance drug delivery, offer a promising nanotherapeutic platform for carvacrol delivery in NAFLD. Given the limited therapeutic options for NAFLD, there is a growing interest in nanotherapeutic strategies to enhance the delivery and efficacy of natural antioxidants. This study examined carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CRV-CNPs) in HFD-induced NAFLD. Sixty rats were assigned to six groups: control, CRV-treated (100 mg/kg), CRV-CNP-treated (100 mg/kg), HFD-fed, and two combination groups receiving HFD with either CRV or CRV-CNPs (100 mg/kg) for six weeks after 14 weeks on HFD. Liver function, metabolic markers, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant enzyme levels, inflammatory and fibrotic mediators, apoptotic gene expression, genotoxicity indices, and histopathological changes were evaluated. CRV-CNPs showed greater efficacy than free carvacrol in ameliorating hepatic dysfunction and metabolic disturbances in HFD-fed rats. CRV-CNPs significantly reduced malondialdehyde, upregulated Nrf2, and elevated hepatic glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione. Inflammatory markers (NF-κB, iNOS, IL-1β, CRP) and transforming growth factor-beta were suppressed. Pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, Caspase-3) were downregulated, while antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was upregulated. CRV-CNPs also reduced DNA fragmentation and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels, indicating strong antigenotoxic effects. Histopathological and ultrastructural assessments revealed mitigated steatosis, preserved hepatic architecture, and maintained mitochondrial integrity. In conclusion, CRV-CNPs provide potent hepatoprotection by targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and genotoxicity in NAFLD, demonstrating enhanced bioavailability, solubility, and sustained release, which support their potential as an advanced nanotherapeutic strategy for NAFLD management.

Amphotericin B (Amp-B/FZ), a first-line antifungal, is limited by dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. This study investigated the protective effects of hyperoside (HP), a dietary flavonoid, against FZ-induced renal toxicity in human proximal tubular (HK-2) cells. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of HP with mitophagy (PINK1/PARKIN) and antioxidant (Nrf2/HO-1) regulators, contrasting with FZ’s preferential binding to mitochondrial complex I. FZ (30–60 µM) induced cytotoxicity (MTT/LDH), genotoxicity (comet assay), and bioenergetic disruption: ATP depletion (58%), mitochondrial complex I/III inhibition (42–67%), and PINK1/PARKIN dysregulation. FZ elevated reactive species (3.2-fold) and lipid peroxidation (2.8-fold) while suppressing catalase (64%) and superoxide dismutase (51%) activities. qPCR confirmed FZ-induced downregulation of NDUFS1, CYC1, CAT, and SOD2, alongside impaired Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling. Co-treatment with HP (20–40 µM) attenuated FZ toxicity, restoring ATP (1.8-fold), mitochondrial complex activities (35–49%), and antioxidant defenses (CAT:2.1-fold, SOD:1.7-fold). HP also normalized Nrf2/HO-1 expression and mitigated oxidative/genotoxic damage. These findings highlight HP’s dual role in countering FZ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, positioning it as a promising nephroprotective adjuvant. Further in vivo validation could advance HP’s clinical application in reducing antifungal-associated renal injury.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a worldwide public health challenge. Accumulating evidence implicates elevated serum ferritin and disruptions in iron metabolism as potential elements linked to an increased risk of MetS. This study investigates the relationship between iron homeostasis—including hepcidin levels, serum iron concentration, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), and the hepcidin/ferritin (H/F) ratio—and MetS. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 209 participants aged 24–70 were categorized into two groups: 103 with MetS and 106 without MetS. All participants underwent medical assessment, including anthropometric measures, indices of glycemic control, lipid profiles, and iron-related parameters. Participants were further stratified by the Homeostasis Model Assessment—Insulin Resistance index into three subgroups: insulin-sensitive (IS) (1.9 to 2.9). Notable increments in serum ferritin and hepcidin were observed in the SIR group relative to the IS and EIR groups, with a significant association between metabolic parameters. The UIBC and serum ferritin emerged as significant predictors of MetS, particularly in men, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.753 and 0.792, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). In contrast, hepcidin was notably correlated with MetS in women, with an AUC of 0.655 (p = 0.007). The H/F ratio showed superior predictive capability for MetS across both sexes (at cutoff level = 0.67). Among women, this ratio had an AUC of 0.639 (p = 0.015), and for men, it had an AUC of 0.792 (p < 0.001). Hypertension proved an independent risk factor for MetS, affirming its role in metabolic dysregulation. The findings highlight a significant interconnection between iron homeostasis parameters and MetS, with sex-specific variations underscoring the importance of personalized diagnostic criteria. The crucial role of the H/F ratio and the UIBC as emerging predictive markers for MetS indicates their potential utility in identifying at-risk individuals. Further longitudinal research is essential to establish causality and explore the interplay between these biomarkers and MetS.

Obesity is closely associated with appetite dysregulation, influenced by behavioral, hormonal, and neurological factors. The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ) is a validated tool, translated into Arabic, but its application in weight-loss interventions remains underexplored. This secondary cross-sectional analysis evaluated whether the Arabic CNAQ can differentiate appetite levels after a 6-month telenutrition weight-loss intervention supported by telemonitoring and health coaching, and whether appetite is associated with weight-loss outcomes. A total of 36 participants were assessed: the intervention group (n = 21), who completed the program, and the control group (n = 15), who received no continuous support. Appetite was measured using the CNAQ after 6 months. Independent-samples t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests were applied to compare appetite scores, while Chi-square tests were used for appetite categories. Results showed mean CNAQ scores of 27.87 (SD = 2.64) for the control group and 26.86 (SD = 4.46) for the intervention group (p = 0.402). Most participants reported moderate appetite (93.3% control; 76.2% intervention), with no significant between-group differences (p = 0.367). Although differences were not statistically significant, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of using the Arabic CNAQ in telehealth weight management. Larger studies with repeated measures are needed to confirm its utility in clinical and dietetic practice.