“MOLECULAR EVALUATION OF A POLYHERBAL CHITOSAN NANOFORMULATION CONTAINING AILANTHUS EXCELSA AND CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS IN HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY: ADIPOGENIC AND INFLAMMATORY GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS”

Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder associated with adipose tissue expansion, dyslipidaemia, and chronic low-grade inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate a chitosan-based polyherbal nanoparticle formulation containing Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. and Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf for its potential anti obesity activity through adipogenic and inflammatory gene-expression analysis. The plant extracts were prepared using hydroalcoholic extraction and incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles by ionic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate. The formulation was characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and pH. Its biological evaluation included body-weight monitoring, serum biochemical analysis, histopathological examination, and RT-qPCR analysis of adipogenic markers (Pparg, Cebpa, and Srebf1) and inflammatory markers (Tnf, Il6, and Nfkb1) in high-fat diet-induced obese animals. The formulation characteristics and reported biological assessment parameters provided a framework for investigating its effects on obesity-associated metabolic and molecular pathways. Further validation using verified experimental data and appropriate statistical analysis is required to establish its efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms.