Anti-obesity and lipid lowering effects of Varanadi kashayam (decoction) on high fat diet induced obese rats

Abstract

BackgroundUse of herbal medicines assumes significance in the prevention of obesity and related disorders due to its natural origin and due to the fact that there are not many drugs available in market to control obesity with fewer adverse effects. The work discussed in this paper evaluates the anti-obesity effects of Varanadi kashayam on high fat diet induced obese Sprague Dawley rats. MethodsDiet induced obesity was developed in male Sprague Dawley rats by administrating HFD for a period of 9 weeks. Anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects were determined by analysing changes in bodyweight gain, histology of liver and visceral adipose tissue, serum lipid profile, serum proinflammatory markers and expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in visceral adipose tissue. ResultsAnimals exposed to Varanadi kashayam for 14 days showed no observable effect on the liver marker enzymes and histopathology of organs. Rats which received HFD together with Varanadi kashayam showed a drastic reduction in bodyweight gain compared to rats receiving HFD only. Supplementation of Varanadi kashayam reduced serum lipid level, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and inhibited the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes (PPAR-γ2, C/EBP-α, FAS, AP2, GLUT-4, and LPL) in visceral adipose tissue. ConclusionThe biochemical, histological and gene expression studies demonstrated the potential anti-inflammatory, anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity action of Varanadi kashayam in HFD induced obese rats.