Abstract

AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF CLERODENDRUM PHILOMIDIS LINN. AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED METABOLIC SYNDROME IN OBESE RATS.

S. Gopinathan* and N. Rameela

Abstract

Substantial published reports reveal that overweight and obesity are the major causes of co-morbidities, including type-2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, different kind of cancers and other health problems, which can lead to further morbidity and mortality. Animal models will help to understand the pathophysiological basis for the drug development to treat conditions of metabolic syndrome. The phytochemicals available in the medicinal plants offer excellent opportunity to develop them in to novel drugs. Objective: To evaluate the ameliorative potential of the Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract on obesity induced oxidative stress and its consequence with pathophysiological parameters of metabolic syndrome in High Fat Diet (HFD) induced obese animal model. Orlistat was used as standard drug. Methods: Oral administration of Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract (400mg/kg-bw) on HFD induced obese rats were taken for the assessment of (1) Physiological parameters: weight of the animals, organs, and fat pads; (2) Oxidative enzymes: SOD, CAT, GPx, GST and PON1and antioxidants GSH, PCO and TBARS; (3) Blood biochemical parameters: insulin, blood glucose, HbA1C, total protein, albumin, globulin, free fatty acids and uric acid; (4) Liver function markers: AST, ALT, ALP, urea and creatinine (5) Lipid profiles: total lipids, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and HDL-c. Results: HFD induced obese rats showed the oxidative stress and metabolic abnormalities which significantly increased the body weight and weights of organs and fat pads of the rats. Levels of TBARS and PCO, blood glucose, HbAC1, liver function markers and lipid profiles also increased. Co-administration of Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract significantly reduced the body weight, fat accumulation, and the levels of all other parameters and brought back normalcy in obese rats. The levels of insulin secretion, activities of SOD, CAT, GPX, GST, PON1, GSH blood protein, albumin, globulin and HDL-c were decreased in obese rats and the same were increased up to the levels of healthy rats after the administration of plant drug. Conclusion: The present study revealed that Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract is an effective herbal drug to attenuate the obesity induced metabolic syndrome pathogenesis. In the present study ursolic acid and lupeol were isolated and identified as pharmacologically active compounds in Clerodendrum phlomidis leaf extract.

Keywords: Clerodendrum phlomidis, Orlistat, oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, ursolic acid, lupeol and antiobesity activity.