Anti-Lipase and Anti-Obesity Activities of Terminalia paniculata Bark in High Calorie Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Our aim in the present study was to evaluate the anti-lipase and anti-obesity activities of Terminalia Paniculata in high caloric diet (HCD) induced obese rats. Different solvent extracts (Hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic and aqueous) were prepared from the bark of T. paniculata and tested for their lipase inhibiting and anti-obesity activities. Among the extracts tested, ethanolic extract showed the highest anti-lipase activity (75%). For evaluating anti-obesity activity, HCD-fed groups were orally administered with 200 mg/kg b. wt of different solvent extracts. We have noticed that ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata (TPEE) showed effective weight reducing and anti-hyperlipidemic activity when compared to other solvent extracts. And the efficiency of TPEE is comparable to that of orlistat (30mg/kg b.wt), a standard anti-obesity drug. Although food consumption was moderately increased in HCD-fed rats, TPEE administration significantly reduced weight gain in them. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) levels were significantly (P< 0.05) lowered, while high density lipoproteins (HDL) increased in TPEE administered HCD groups. Moreover, elevated fecal cholesterol levels were noticed in HCD+ TPEE treated groups, compared to HCD controls. Based on our results we demonstrate that TPEE has potential anti-lipase and anti-obesity activities.