Evaluation of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Ceiba Pentandra for Anti-obesity and Hypolipidaemic Activity in Cafeteria Diet (cd) Treated Wistar Albino Rats

Ceiba pentandra (C. pentandra) has been traditionally used in the ayurveda system of medicine for the treatment of obesity and atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of C. pentandra in Cafeteria diet (CD) treated Wistar albino rats. Obesity was induced in Wistar albino rats by feeding CD daily for twelve weeks. Body weight was measured initially and then every week thereafter. Food and water intake was measured daily. On day 85, the serum biochemical parameters were estimated and the animals were sacrificed with over dose of anesthetic ether. The liver and fat pads (perirenal, mesenteric and epididymis) were removed and weighed immediately. The intestinal activity of enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined. Administration of C. pentandra (125 mg/kg) prevented the increase in body weight in cafeteria diet treated animals. Administration of C. pentandra showed significant decrease in body weight gain in CD treated obese rats. The significant decrease in ALP level was observed in C. pentandra treated rats. Administration of C. pentandra showed significant decrease in the weight of liver and fat pads as compared to CD control and BMI (g/cm2) was lowered. Results of this study showed that C. pentandra has anti-obesity activity which may partly be mediated via inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption and thermogenesis. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that C. pentandra has therapeutic potential in the management of obesity. INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a medical condition involving an excess accumulation of body fat. The prevalence of obesity has increased steadily over the past five decades not only in adults, but also among children and adolescents and had a significant impact on the quality adjusted life years . The rapid increase in the incidence of obesity during the past several decades is a matter of great concern . The drugs used in the treatment of obesity acts either on central nervous system by suppressing appetite or inducing thermogenisis therefore leading to lipolysis e.g. Phentermine and Sibutramine, or acts on peripheral nervous system, which decreases fat absorption by preventing the breakdown of dietary fat in the gastrointestinal tract e.g. Orlistat . Each of these promotes 5 to 10% loss of body weight and has their own limitations and side effects. An endocannibinoid receptor antagonist, Rimonabant was withdrawn from the market due to concerns about its safety, including risk of seizures and suicidal tendencies . However, these drugs do not cure obesity; weight rebounds when discontinued.