Publication:

A comparative study of efficacy of argyreia speciosa and orlistat for their anti-obesity action in high fat diet induced obese rats

Background To compare the anti-obesity action of Argyreia speciosa root extract with standard anti-obesity drug orlistat. Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (100-200g, n=50) were obtained from the animal house. Dose of Orlistat was 32.4mg/kg/day and Dose of Argyreia speciosa root was 500mg/kg/day.

Methods Food induced obesity model was used. Following parameters were evaluated: Total Cholesterol (mg/dl), Triglyceride (mg/dl), HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl), LDL cholesterol (mg/dl), atherogenic index, serum lipase (U/L). Analysis was done by one way ANOVA followed by post-hoc test and Graph Pad Prism version 5.00 was used for the analysis.

Results Total cholesterol, triglcerides, LDL cholesterol and Atherogenic index was significantly lesser in the rats fed with CD+O group and CD+ASE group than in the animals from CD group (p<0.05). It was also significantly lesser in the rats fed with CD+O+ASE than in the animals from CD group (p<0.05). HDL cholesterol was significantly greater in the rats fed with CD+O group and CD+ASE group than in the animals from CD group (p<0.05). It was also significantly greater in the rats fed with CD+O+ASE than in the animals from CD group (p<0.05).

Conclusions ASE significantly reduces total cholesterol (mg/dl), triglyceride (mg/dl), LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) and atherogenic index, it significantly increases HDL- cholesterol (mg/dl) and it is comparable to orlistat. Thus the anti-obesity action of ASE is comparable to orlistat.