Abstract
The consumption of a high-fat diet is linked to the development of obesity and considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MEML) on the high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obesity and cardiac damage in rats. MEML, at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw and 400 mg/kg/bw, was orally administrated to obese rats for 12 weeks. M. oleifera leaves were proved to be rich in nutrients and minerals. Diversity of phenolic compounds in MEML was evidenced via LC-ESI-MS analysis. The chronic administration of HFD in rats led to an increase in the body weight gain, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and reduction in the HDL-C levels. The obtained results indicated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the cardiac marker enzyme level in obese rats. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the levels of cardiac catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities was accompanied with an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the high-fat diet group when compared to those of the control. The treatment with the MEML alleviated abnormalities in the serum biochemical parameters, balanced the antioxidant status, and reestablished the normal histological structure of the heart especially in the case of the higher concentration. Moringa oleifera leaves may be a promising candidate in the management of obesity and its related complications such as heart problems.
Highlights
Obesity is a common disease whose prevalence is associated with a combination of genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors
The present study evaluates the therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract in the treatment of obesity as well as its protective effect on the cardiac disorders induced by a high-fat diet feeding
Crude protein had a value of 25.87%, while ether extract and fiber amounted to 7.28% and 7.98%, respectively
Summary
Obesity is a common disease whose prevalence is associated with a combination of genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors. It has become among the most growing public health issues. A 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) survey on the globally increasing prevalence of obesity reported that 1.9 billion adults were overweight, more than 600 million of which obese [1]. Obesity has been proven to increase various health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, cancers, and asthma [2]. The strong association between obesity and cardiovascular disease is an area of intensive research. A growing body of evidence suggests that increasing abdominal adiposity is associated with a greater risk of developing heart failure [3]
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