Modulatory Impact of Methanolic Extract of Irvingia gabonensis Leaves on Selected Biochemical Indices in Fat-Loaded Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Abstract

Obesity is among the health conditions that have defied orthodox medicine. Over time, the use of natural herbal medicines has been developed for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Therefore, this study evaluated the potential of Methanolic extract of Irvingia gabonensis (bush mango leaf) in ameliorating biochemical changes in Sprague-Dawley rats fed high-fat diets. Methanolic extract of I. gabonensis leaf administered orally at a dose level of 400 mg/kg) body weight and the reference anti-obesity  Orlistat® (30 mg/kg)body weight, respectively, for four weeks showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in serum blood glucose concentration across the groups. However, a significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight, liver function markers (ALP, AST, ALT, albumin, total protein, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin), kidney function markers (urea and creatinine) and an increase in serum potassium, sodium and chloride were observed in the high-fat diet-induced treated groups when compared with the induced non-treated rats. This study also found that the induction of high-fat altered the systems in the liver, kidney and heart. It caused histopathological changes in the architecture of these organs. Treatments with I.gabonensis extract, however, significantly (p< 0.05) restored these alterations to near-normal values. The results from this study suggest that I. gabonensis extract possesses ameliorative effects against biochemical changes associated with consumption of high-fat diets in Sprague-Dawley rats. The plant extract may be explored for the management of Obesity.