Moringa oleifera offers a Multi - Mechanistic Approach for Management of Obesity in Rats

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat is accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively affected. Obesity is associated with a number of chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer. The current study was constructed to evaluate the efficacy of alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera in management of obesity induced by high cholesterol diet in rats. Adult female albino rats were classified into four groups. The first group was kept on standard rodent chow for 30 weeks (lean control). The other three groups received high cholesterol diet for 30 weeks. These animals were assigned as obese control group, Moringa oleifera treated group and Simvastatin treated group. The results revealed significant increase in thoracic (TC) and abdominal (AC) circumferences as well as body mass index (BMI) in obese group. Moreover, dyslipidemia, and hyperleptinemia have been demonstrated in obese group. Furthermore, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly increased in obese group versus the lean control group. In addition, obese group revealed significant decrease in serum adiponectin level in concomitant with significant increase in resistin level as compared to lean control group. On the other side, treatment with Moringa oleifera alcoholic extract or simvastatin could reduce food intake and BMI as well as ameliorate the dyslipidemia, in obese groups. Serum leptin level showed significant decrease in obese group due to treatment with Moringa oleifera alcoholic extract or Simvastatin. As well significant inhibition of serum MDA and NO levels was detected as a consequence of treatment with either Moringa oleifera extract or Simvastatin. Additionally, the treatment of obese group with Moringa oleifera extract or Simvastatin resulted in significant decrease in serum resistin level in concomitant with significant increase in serum adiponectin level as compared to obese control group. In conclusion, 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.