Phytochemical Composition and Anti-Obesity Effect of The Methanol Extract of Ziziphous Mucronata Leaves in Wistar Rats |Biomedgrid

The incidence of obesity is increasing tremendously, and it has been revealed that about 500 million adults are obese worldwide. This study evaluated the anti-obesity potentials of methanol extract of Ziziphous mucronata leaves (MEZM) in male albino rats. The extract obtained by standard methods was screened phytochemically and subjected to acute toxicity study using Lorkes method. Obesity was induced in rats by daily feeding with high fat diet for 5 weeks. Only rats with an abdominal circumference (AC) of 20 cm, thoracic circumference (TC) of 17 cm and body mass index (BMI) of 0.68 g/cm2 and above respectively were considered obese and used for the study. The obese rats were assigned into 5 groups (II- VI) of 12 rats per group replicated three times. Whereas the rats in the normal control (group I) received normal growers mash diet and distilled water, the obese negative control (group II) received the high fat diet and distilled water only, while the positive control (group III) received high fat diet, distilled water and 60 mg/kg b.wt of Orlistat. Graded doses of the extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.wt) were administered orally to groups IV, V and VI respectively for 28 days. During the treatment, AC, TC, BW and BMI were measured weekly. Following the 28-day treatment regimen, Rats were euthanized, and blood samples collected for serum lipid profile {Total cholesterol (Tchol), Triglycerides (TAG), High density lipoprotein (HDL) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)} analyses. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, phenols, steroids, flavonoids, and alkaloids in varying proportions. Acute toxicity results showed that the extract had no toxic effect on the rats and the oral LD50 was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract showed dose-dependent anti-obesity effects as there was a significant (p< 0.05) decrease in AC, TC, BW and BMI of treated rats. The extract also significantly (p< 0.05) reduced serum concentrations of Tchol, TAG and LDL but with a corresponding significant (p< 0.05) increase in HDL concentration. It was concluded that Ziziphous mucronata extract possesses anti-obesity activity and could also play a significant role in the management of obesity-related complications such as cardiovascular diseases.