Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39856245›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of obesity (2005)2025

Curcumin enhances the anti-obesogenic activity of orlistat through SKN-1/NRF2-dependent regulation of nutrient metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Martina S Savova, Monika N Todorova, Biser K Binev, Milen I Georgiev, Liliya V Mihaylova

Abstract read
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Article in International journal of obesity (2005), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential ofMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  3. Postbiotic pA1cInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Martina S Savova *Laboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Monika N Todorova *Laboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Biser K BinevLaboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Milen I GeorgievLaboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0001-5248-6135
Liliya V MihaylovaLaboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. l.mihaylova@microbio.bas.bg.ORCID 0000-0002-1690-1490

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetabolic dysregulation, a defining feature of obesity, disrupts essential signalling pathways involved in nutrient sensing and mitochondria homeostasis. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2) serves as a pivotal regulator of the cellular stress response, and recent studies have implicated it in the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric, has been identified as a potent activator of NRF-2. Evidence suggests curcumin impacts obesity and metabolic disorders by modulating gut microbiota composition, increasing energy expenditure, and regulating lipid metabolism. Orlistat, an anti-obesity drug, inhibits fat absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, but its side effects limits its broader use.

objectivesThe present study aims to investigate the potential synergetic effect of a hybrid combination between orlistat and curcumin. Additionally, we provide a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which this combination mitigates glucose-induced lipid accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans, with a focus on the role of the skinhead 1 (SKN-1) transcription factor, an orthologue of NRF2.

methodsWe assessed the lipid accumulation and the changes in skn-1 transcriptional activity in C. elegans using confocal GFP-based detection, alongside mRNA expression analysis of genes from lipid metabolism and oxidative stress response in wild-type, QV225 and LD1 strains. Furthermore, we evaluated locomotion, chemotaxis and mitochondrial dynamics to enhance our understanding of the proposed molecular-based model.

resultsOur findings reveal that the orlistat/curcumin combination exerts an anti-obesogenic effect through SKN-1/NRF2-dependent regulation of conserved genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in C. elegans. Moreover, the combination stimulates mitochondrial potential, further contributing to the observed synergistic effects.

conclusionThe hybrid combination of orlistat and curcumin demonstrates significant anti-obesity activity by regulating nutrient-sensing pathways through SKN-1/NRF-2 modulation. This approach may allow for the reduction of orlistat dosage, thereby minimizing its adverse effects while maintaining its therapeutic efficacy.

Indexed as

Anti-Obesity AgentsCaenorhabditis elegansCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsCurcuminDNA-Binding ProteinsNF-E2-Related Factor 2ObesityOrlistatTranscription FactorsAnimalsLipid MetabolismAnti-Obesity AgentsCaenorhabditis elegans ProteinsCurcuminDNA-Binding ProteinsNF-E2-Related Factor 2Orlistatskn-1 protein, C elegansTranscription Factors

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.