stem bark extract ameliorates obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance in a rat model of high fat diet-induced obesity.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

() is an imperative plant with many medicinal uses. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the stem bark of and its fractions in a high fat diet (HFD) rat model.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Seventy-two male albino rats were randomly divided into 9 groups, 8 rats per each. Group 1 was the normal control and received standard balanced diet. All the remaining groups were fed HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Group 2 served as the HFD control group, group 3 received orlistat (5 mg/kg/day), groups 4 and 5 received total extract of stem bark (250 and 500 mg/kg). Groups 6 and 7 received ethyl acetate fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg), while groups 8 and 9 received butanol fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Both doses of the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark of significantly decreased the body weight, blood glucose, lipid profile and improved insulin sensitivity. Levels of MDA, leptin and inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased by the ethyl acetate fraction while adiponectin and HDL-C were significantly increased relative to the HFD control group. Both doses of the ethyl acetate fraction significantly abolished HDF induced oxidative stress and normalized the values of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, metabolic profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction was performed by UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of stem bark possessed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitizing properties in HFD rat model.