Abstract

ANTIOBESITY EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MUNTINGIA CALABURA LEAVES ON HIGH FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY IN RATS

Akshay Kumar C. P., Bharathi D. R.* and Nataraj G. R.

.

Abstract

Obesity is a major health concern both in developed and developing countries. The goal of the present investigation was to determine whether the ethanolic extract of Muntingia calabura leaves affects body weight in an obese animal model induced by a high-fat diet. A treatment group of rats was given an ethanolic extract of Muntingia calabura leaves (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) orally for 49 days to test its antiobesity potential in comparison to normal, obese control, and standard groups. Various parameters were used to assess the effect (body weight, lipid profile, and liver function tests). Our findings suggest that both doses of Muntingia calabura leaves extract exhibited a significant antiobesity activity by reducing physical and biochemical parameters with increased High density lipoproteins levels and it could be used as an antiobesity agent in the future.

Keywords: High-fat diet, Muntingia calabura, Obesity, Lipid profile, Liver function test.