Anti-Obesity Efficacy of Roots of Stereospermum suaveolens in High Fat-Induced Obese Rats

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-obesity efficacy of ethanol extract of roots of Stereospermum suaveolens on high fat fed obese rats. Methodology: Ethanol extract of roots was prepared by hot extraction method and preliminary phytochemical studies had been conducted. Obesity was induced in Wistar rats by administration of high fat diet for 40 days. Anti-obesity effect was screened by oral administration of extract at two different dose levels i.e. 200 and 400mg/kg bd wt. along with high fat diet for 40 days. Orlistat at a dose of 50mg/kg.bd.wt was used as standard drug control. The anti-obesity activity is estimated in terms of body weight gain, food intake, Lee-index, Serum triglycerides (TG), Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), VLDL cholesterol (VLDL-C), blood glucose (BG), atherogenic index, coronary risk index and organ and fat pad weights. Histological studies had been carried out for hepatic tissue. Results: Administration of high fat diet for 40 successive days significantly increased the body weight, food intake, organ and fat pad weights, Lee index, atherogenic index, coronary risk index, TG, TC, LDL, VLDL, BG and decreased HDL levels in disease control animals. Animals administered with extract for 40 successive days along with high fat diet reversed the effects induced by high fat in dose depen dent manner. Conclusion: The present study depicts that the ethanol extract of roots of Stereospermum suaveolens have a promising anti-obesity efficacy.