Original Articles
Raghu Mohan Rao P., Jyothi Y.
Abstract
Obesity has become a worldwide health problem. Orlistat, an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase, is currently approved as an anti-obesity drug. However, gastrointestinal side effects caused by Orlistat may limit its use. The present study investigated the Anti-Obesity effect of Ethanolic extract of Taraxacum officinale (TOE) on rats fed on High Fat Diet (HFD). Experimental obesity was induced by feeding rats with HFD for 10 weeks. HFD treatment caused significant increase in body weight, body mass index, Weight of different fat depots, serum glucose, cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL, and decrease in serum HDL in HFD control group which were assessed as an index of obesity. Ethanolic extract of Taraxacum officinale was administered orally at low and High dose (150 and 300mg/kg) as test drug while Orlistat was used as standard drug. On 10th week body weight, lipid parameters, organ weight and fat pad weights were evaluated. ANOVA followed by Turkey’s multiple range tests was applied. Over the course of study, it was found that Taraxacum officinale significantly reduced body weight, lipid parameters, organ weight and fat pad weights. Among low and high dose of T.officinale high dose was most effective.