Antiobesity Activity of Flavanoids Isolated from Solanum macrocarpum in Wistar Rats

Aims: To correlate obesity/atherosclerosis with body mass index, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, serum low density lipoprotein and serum high density lipoprotein of diet induced obese wistar rats.

Study Design: Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics (Animal research house) and Department of veterinary science both in University of Nigeria Nsukka. The study was conducted between January to March 2012.

Methodology: Four groups of twenty male Wistar rats were fed a highly palatable diet for 2 weeks to induce obesity resembling mild obesity condition in human population after one week acclimatization period. DIO rats received rat chow and flavonoids extract daily for 6 weeks. Group 1 received rat chow alone; Group 2- 0.05% of flavonoids extract and rat chow; Group 3- 0.15% of flavonoid extract and rat chow; and Group 4- 0.25% of flavonoid extract and rat chow. BMI, Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglyceride were evaluated using standard assay technique. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and mean separated using LSD.

Results: Feeding the rats with palatable diet showed increased in BMI (from 0.35-0.40 to 0.60-0.65), total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels along with decrease in HDL (p<0.05). Consumption of flavonoids resulted in the significant reduction in BMI, LDL, total cholesterol and triglyceride level and exhibit significant elevation in HDL cholesterol compared to the rats fed only rat chow (p<0.05). It was observed that the decrease in BMI, Triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level of rats fed 0.25% of flavonoids were significantly different (p<0.05) from those fed 0.15% and 0.05% flavonoids.

Conclusions: The results suggest that flavonoids extract from Solanum macranthum has atherogenic effect which can help to reduce obesity.