Effects of Orlistat and herbal mixture extract on brain, testes functions and oxidative stress biomarkers in a rat model of high fat diet

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of herbal mixture extracts of pumpkin seed oil, peanuts shell and Orlistat on brain, testes functions, oxidative stress biomarkers and histopathological changes in male albino rats administered high fat diet. Fifty male rats were divided into four groups: 1st administered normal diet, 2nd administered high fat diet, 3rd administered high fat diet with Orlistat and 4th administered high fat diet with herbal mix. A group of rats were fed with a standard control diet (1st control group was 12 rats for 22 weeks) and another group of rats were fed a diet containing 35% fat (2nd high fat diet) for 16 weeks. Then, this group of high fat diet was divided into 3 groups for the following 6 weeks: 1st group administered high fat diet only (13 rats), 2nd group administered high fat diet plus 2 mg/kg bw/day Orlistat (12 rats) and 3rd group administered high fat diet plus 5 mg/kg bw/day pumpkins and 2 mg/kg bw/day peanut shell extract (13 rats). Blood samples, brain and testes tissues were collected for biochemical assays and histopathological studies. High fat diet group showed a high significant increase (P < .001) in feed intake, body weight and body mass index. HFD showed a significant increasing in Nor Epinephrine, Dopamine, BCHE, Homocysteine and malondialdehyde contents in brain. In testes high fat diet increased malonaldehyde contents of testes. An improvement by the treatments with Orlistat and herbal mixture was observed. Histopathological examination of brain and testes sections of high fat diet rats supported the previous biochemical results. We concluded that the treatment with Orlistat and herbal mixture ameliorated the harmful effects of the high fat diet and reduce feed intake.

Keywords

• Obesity
• Orlistat
• Pumpkin oil
• Peanut shell
• Oxidative stress