Evaluation of anti-obesity activity of Thespesia populnea (L.) and flavonoid isolated quercetin on high fat diet –induced obese rats

Abstract

The anti-obesity activity of ethanol extract of the stem bark of Thespesia populnea L., (EETP) was evaluated in High Fat Diet (HFD) induced obese rats and flavonoid isolated of Quercetin was characterized. Acute oral toxicity studies revealed that EETP is safe up to 2000mg/kg and doses were selected. Six groups of rats were used and administered orally with vehicle 0.2ml of 1% tween 80 (normal control), fed on HFD+0.2ml of 1% tween 80 (negative control), fed on HFD+EETP (100, 200 & 400 mg/kg) and fed on HFD+ Orlistat 50 mg/kg (positive control), for 40 days respectively. The body rectal temperature, food intake, Lee index and body weight of the animals were recorded and the whole brain was dissected out for estimation of serotonin on day 41. The blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and used for the estimation of lipid profile. The atherogenic and coronary risk indices were calculated from lipid profile. Obese rats pretreated with EETP or Orlistat exhibited significant increase in body rectal temperature and decrease in food intake, Lee index and body weight of the animals. Moreover, the tested extracts showed beneficial effects on brain serotonin, lipid profile, atherogenic and coronary risk indices in rats. In conclusion, EETP exerts potential anti-obesity activity that could be partly attributed to its flavonoid Quercetin and other bioactive phytoconstituents.