The Effect of Ulva lactuca L. on the Micro Anatomical Structure of Duodenum of Female White Rats Rattus norvegicus, (Berkenhout 1769) Induced with an MSG-High Fat Diet Obesity

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ulva lactuca administration on the duodenum of obesity-induced Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) and assess whether microanatomical structure changes suggest its protective role against mucosal damage, inflammation, and disruptions in fat and glucose absorption associated with obesity. The rats were categorized into three groups: control (K), obesity (O), and obesity with U. lactuca supplementation (OS). Findings demonstrated that the OS group exhibited increased thickness of the mucosa-submucosa layer (309.04 ± 152.39 μm) and the total duodenal wall (1147.67 ± 627.06 μm) compared to the O group, which displayed thinning of the mucosa-submucosa layer with adipose tissue accumulation in the submucosal and adventitial layers. Additionally, microscopic examination showed better structural organization of the tunica muscularis and tunica adventitia layers in the OS group than in the O group. The protective effects of U. lactuca are believed to result from its bioactive compounds, including chlorophyll, phenolic compounds, ulvan, and carotenoids, which possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and fat-reducing properties that help prevent ectopic fat deposition in the intestinal wall. However, the observed increase in duodenal wall thickness in the OS group was not statistically significant. In conclusion, U. lactuca administration shows promise in protecting against duodenal damage induced by obesity.