Biochemical Evaluation of Some Compounds Used for Treatment of Obesity

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to assess the weight controlling properties of different compounds in their available products in Egyptian market used for the treatment of obesity in dietary obese female rates in comparison with orlistat as a reference FDA approved anti-obesity drug. Eighty female rats were allocated into 8 groups, ten rats per each group. Ten rats received normal palatable diet (NPD) for five months; the remaining rats received high fat diet (HFD) for three months to establish diet-induced obesity. Rats receiving HFD were divided equally into seven groups. One group returned to normal diet and the other groups returned to normal diet and treated with orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) or garcinia cambogia extract (400 mg/kg/day) or combination of garcinia cambogia extract (400 mg/kg/day) and chromium (28 μg/kg/day) or chromium (28 μg/kg/day) or chromium (80 μg/kg/day) or combination of garcinia cambogia extract (400 mg/kg/day) and chromium (80 μg/kg/day) for additional two months. Feeding with HFD induced a significant increase in body weight of rats as well as serum glucose, insulin resistance, serum lipids, leptin, adipose tissue index, atherosclerosis index and oxidative stress marker such as MDA and visfatin as compared to normal feeding group. These measurements were suppressed by orlistst, garcinia cambogia extract, chromium, combination of garcinia cambogia extract and chromium with different extend. Our data ensures the findings that garcinia cambogia, chromium and their combination possess weight controlling and insulin sensitizing properties. Combination of garcinia cambogia and chromium can be used as alternative to orlistat for treatment of obesity to overcome its adverse effect.