Abstract
BackgroundObesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance. Prescription of anti-obesity drugs can be useful adjuncts to diet and exercise for obese patients who have failed to achieve weight loss. However, these drugs are ineffective and are associated with adverse effects. In recent times, medicinal plants have drawn a sharp focus owing to their biocompatibility and effectiveness. Attempts to determine the therapeutic effects and identification of bio-active principles from herbal prescriptions have become the prime focus in the validation of their folkloric usage and in drug discovery programs. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects of Dichloromethane leaf extract of Gnidia glauca in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. MethodsObesity was induced experimentally in white albino Wistar rats by feeding them with prepared high-fat-diet and water ad libitum for a period of 12 weeks. The in-vivo anti-obesity effects were determined by oral administration of Gnidia glauca at dosage levels of 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg body weight from the 6th to 12th week of study. Phytochemical analysis of Gnidia glauca was conducted using gas chromatography linked to mass spectrophotometer. ResultsThe results indicated that Gnidia glauca exhibited potent anti-obesity effects. It significantly reduced the body weight, organ weights, organo-somatic indices, anthropometric indices, the total fat content, adiposity index, atherogenic index as well as various lipid profiles. It also decreased the total feed intake. However, it significantly increased levels of high-density lipoproteins and rectal body temperature of rats. Quantitative phytochemical analysis also revealed the presence of various phytocompounds that have shown to be associated with anti-obesity effects. ConclusionThe anti-obesity effects of Gnidia glauca maybe attributed to the phytochemicals present. The present study, therefore, scientifically validates the traditional use of Gnidia glauca as a potential candidate for the synthesis of new effective anti-obesity supplement.
Highlights
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by pathophysiological processes that result in increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance [1]
Results are expressed as Means Æ Standard Deviation (SD) for five animals per group
Tukey's post hoc test was done for pairwise separation and comparison of means
Summary
Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by pathophysiological processes that result in increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance [1]. Obesity represents a phenotypic consequence of an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended in favor of caloric intake [3] These results may be due to increased consumption of energy-dense foods that are high in fat combined with decreased physical activity as a result of increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, transport, and urbanization [4]. The present study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects of Dichloromethane leaf extract of Gnidia glauca in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. Results: The results indicated that Gnidia glauca exhibited potent anti-obesity effects It significantly reduced the body weight, organ weights, organo-somatic indices, anthropometric indices, the total fat content, adiposity index, atherogenic index as well as various lipid profiles. The present study, scientifically validates the traditional use of Gnidia glauca as a potential candidate for the synthesis of new effective anti-obesity supplement
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