Anti-Obesity Activity of Vateria indica linn. Stem Bark in Rats

Abstract

Vateria indica Linn. is a tree belonging to Family Dipterocarpaceae and has been traditionally used for lipid disorders. The present study was performed to study the antiobesity effect of Vateria indica Linn. stem bark against high fat diet induced obesity models in albino wistar rats. Rats were fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Aqueous extract of Vateria indica stem bark (AVIB) was administered orally in three doses i.e. 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight to the treatment groups. The following parameters were recorded – body weight, organ weights and various biochemical parameters like total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL. There was significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weights, liver weight, kidney weight, spleen weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL after treatment with AVIB on HFD fed rats. Hence AVIB showed a significant dose dependent antiobesity effect against HFD model. Preliminary phytochemical qualitative analysis of the aqueous extract of Vateria indica stem bark showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavanoids, resins, tannins and saponins. Hence the probable mechanism by which the Vateria indica stem bark showed anti-obesity activity could be due to its bile acid sequestering property or due to the presence of flavanoids. The bark of Vateria indica may be a potential candidate for further research leading to the development of herbal therapeutic agent for obesity.