Abstract

A STUDY TO EVALUATE POTENTIAL ANTIOBESITY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC PULP EXTRACT OF CUCUMIS MELO LINN USING CAFETERIA DIET MODEL IN RATS

*Satish S. and N. Meghashree

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Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity activity of ethanolic extract of Cucumis melo (ECM) against Cafeteria diet induced obesity in rats. Two doses 200 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg b.w p.o of the extract were administered for 28 days and subjected for the evaluation of anti-obesity activity, induced by feeding cafeteria diet. Orlistat (10mg/kg) was served as standard drug. Evaluation of body weight, serum lipid profile and glucose level, liver weight and its TG level was carried out in above experimental model. Body temperature and locomotor activity was also evaluated. Orlistat(10mg/kg) and ECM (200mg/kg) (600mg/kg) treated animals significantly decreased body weight, liver weight, serum lipid profile and glucose level, liver TG level in experimental model compared to obese control animals. The present study concluded that ethanolic extract of Cucumis melo was found to be helpful in lowering body weight, total Cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, and increasing HDL levels in both the obese models. The mechanism may point towards inhibiting cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis.

Keywords: Obesity, Orlistat, Cucumis melo, Muskmelon, serum lipid profile, food intake, Cafeteria diet.