Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic activityofPithecellobium dulceagainst high-fatdiet-induced obesity in experimentalanimals

Pithecellobium dulce (PD) (Leguminosae) is conventionally used for many diseases. The objective of this present study intended to assess the anti-obese and hypolipidemic properties of petroleum ether (PEPD), ethyl acetate (EAPD), and methanolic extract (MAPD) of leaves of aerial parts of PD in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and hypolipidemic effect in obese animals. The present investigation, PD at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, was given along with HFD for 40 days. Our findings such as lipid profiles, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glucose, body weight, food intake, body temperature, atherogenic index, coronary index, weight of the organs (liver and kidney), and anti-antioxidants were estimated. The chronic administration of HFD in rats produced hypercholesterolemia (230.66 ± 12.26 mg/dL), which led to an increase in the body weight gain (106.29 g), total cholesterol, triglycerides (192.84 ± 11.09 mg/dL), and reduction in the levels of high-density lipoprotein (35.67 ± 5.31 mg/dL) as well as changes in body temperature of animals. Further, rats treated with MAPD (100 and 200 mg/kg) show reduced atherogenic index (0.98 ± 0.09 and 0.68 ± 0.04), coronary index (3.29 ± 0.42 and 2.93 ± 0.52), retroperitoneal fat (0.84 ± 0.05), epididymal fat (1.24 ± 0.02), and mesenteric fat (1.08 ± 0.03) and show comparatively good inhibition in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. From the results, it might be expected that PD used significant anti-obese and hypolipidemic effect in rats fed with HFD.