AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE METHANOLIC NUT EXTRACT IN HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND DISRUPTED METABOLIC HORMONES

Folasade Omobolanle Ajao*, Marcus Olaoye Iyedupe, Oluwasegun Ridwan Okunowo, Noheem Olaolu Kalejaiye, Olamide Joseph Williams and Adebimpe Precious Salami

ABSTRACT

Background: Obesity is considered as major risk factors for development of many chronic metabolic diseases and prevention of obesity in alleviating these diseases is globally challenging. This study investigated the potential anti-obesity effect of Anacardium occidentale methanolic nut extract in high-fat diet induced obese rats compared to Simvastatin. Methods: Fifty (50) male Wistar rats weighing (180±20g) were used and obesity was induced using high-fat diet. The animals were divided into five groups (10rats/group): control, HFD, HFD+100mg/kgb.wt Anacardium occidentale, HFD+200100mg/kgb.wt Anacardium occidentale and HFD+40mg/kgb.wt Simvastatin group. Body weight and blood glucose were measured weekly. On the last day of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and blood sample were collected for biochemical estimation of lipid profile, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, oxidative stress parameters and Markers of Kidney functions. Results: Treatment with Anacardium occidentale nut extract significantly (p<0.05) decrease the body weight, blood glucose, leptin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and enhanced the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and ghrelin levels in high-fat diet treated rats. Furthermore, Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Reduced glutathione (GSH), and Catalase (CAT) levels were significantly (p<0.05) increases with a decrease Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in high-fat diet treated rats. Also, Markers of kidney functions urea, uric acid and creatinine level were improved in high-fat diet treated rats. Conclusion: From these findings, Anacardium occidentale nut extract has potential anti-obesity effects and it can be explored as alternative therapy in preventing obesity-related metabolic disease.

Keywords: Anacardium occidentale nut, High-fat diet, Obesity, Oxidative stress, Metabolic hormones.