Publication:

Antiobesity activity of Moringa oleifera leaves against high fat diet-induced obesity in rats

Background Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat is accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively affected. The current study was constructed to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf powder in management of obesity induced by high cholesterol diet in rats.

Methods It was an animal (experimental) study and was carried out in the department of pharmacology and therapeutics at Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka in collaboration with Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka from January 2009 to December 2009 for a period of one year. 24 Adult male long Evans rats were taken as experimental animal and were grouped as group A and group B. Group A consists of 6 rats (lean control) treated with normal diet without any drugs for 49 days. Group B were treated with high fat diet for 14 days then divided into three groups B1, B2 and B3. Group B1 (obese control) received high fat diet without any drugs for 49 days. Group B2 rats were treated with Moringa Oleifera leaf powder in single dosage of 50 mg/day/ rat orally for 35 days with high fat diet. Group B3 rats were treated with Moringa Oleifera leaf powder in b.d dosage of 50 mg/day/rat orally for 35 days with high fat diet. These animals were assigned as Moringa Oleifera treatment group.

Results The results revealed chronic administration of high fat diet in rats led to an increase in body weight that is in group B1 significant increase in thoracic (TC) and abdominal (AC) circumferences as well as body mass index (BMI) in obese group. On the other side, in group B2 treatment with Moringa oleifera leaf powder in single dose reduce food intake and BMI in obese groups. Group B3 treatment with Moringa oleifera leaf powder in b.d. dose resulted in significant decrease in BMI compared to obese control group.

Conclusions The data of the current study provides experimental evidence for the anti-obesity effect of Moringa oleifera ethanol extract. Thus, present findings reinforce the advice recommending consumption of Moringa oleifera to modulate obesity.