TITLE:
Comparative Study on Effect of Chrysophyllum albidum and Irvingia gabonensis Leaves Extracts on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Wistar Rats
AUTHORS:
Osebhahiemen Ibukun, A. Francis Obuseh, S. Ehimwenma Omoregie
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Chrysophyllum albidum, Irvingia gabonensis, Body Mass Index, Lee’s Index, Adipose Tissues
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: Leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum and Irvingia gabonensis have been reported to possess saponins,
flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and tannins which have several health benefits.
This study investigated the anti-obesity effect of methanol extract of leaves
of Chrysophyllum albidum and Irvingia gabonensis in high fat diet (HFD) fed rats. Male Wistar rats were fed with HFD for
eight weeks to induce obesity. Rats in different groups were thereafter treated
with extracts of Chrysophyllum albidum (250 and 500 mg/kg; p.o), Irvingia gabonensis (250 and 500 mg/kg; p.o) or the reference
anti-obesity drug (orlistat®; 20 mg/kg, p.o) for four weeks. Body weight,
body mass index (BMI) and Lee’s index were recorded. Following sacrifice of the
rats, weight of adipose tissues (retroperitoneal and epididymal fat), serum
lipid profile, kidney function markers, liver and cardiac function enzymes were
measured. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney tissues were
carried out. Obese rats treated with Chrysophyllum albidum, Irvingia gabonensis or orlistat showed normal body weights.
Weights of adipose tissues, BMI and Lee’s index were comparable with those of
normal control [normal fat diet (NFD) fed rats]. Also, serum analysis showed
that orlistat and extracts treated rats had restored lipid profile, liver,
kidney and cardiac function parameters in contrast with the untreated HFD fed obese
group. Furthermore, liver and kidney of orlistat and extracts treated groups
showed normal architecture while those of the untreated HFD group showed
inflammation and hepatic steatosis. Findings from the study suggest that
methanol extracts of Chrysophyllum albidum and Irvingia gabonensis leaves have anti-obesity and
anti-hyperlipidaemic properties. Comparatively, extract of Irvingia gabonensis appeared to be a better suppressor of
adiposity than extract of Chrysophyllum albidum.