Are Tetraclinis articulata having a Biological and Histopathological Beneficial Effect on Obese Rats?

Nowadays, the use of herbs or the natural plant for the management of obesity or controlling body weight is interesting. Therefore, the present study was set to investigate the effectiveness of the Tetraclinis articulata gum, leaves aqueous extracts, and fruits on obese rats. The experiment was conducted on 28 obese adult male albino rats, randomized into 4 groups (7 rats each). Group one was kept as control obese rats fed high-fat diet (HFD) only, while the other three groups fed accomplished HFD with Arar gum (10% of the diet), orally given of leaves aqueous extract (1ml/100 g b. wt) and fruits (10% of the diet), respectively. The results revealed that control obese rats have a significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed efficiency ratio (FER), visceral fat weight (VFW) and adiposity index (AI); levels of blood glucose, serum insulin, leptin, TC, TG, TL,  LDL-c, VLDL-c, BUN, UA, Cr, MDA, and activity of the liver enzymes, compared to obese rats fed the supplemented HFD with AG, AF or oral administrations of ALE. The significant performance on reducing body weight, VFW and AI; levels of blood glucose, serum insulin, leptin, lipid profile, BUN, UA and Cr was a performance in treated obese rats with the AG, followed by AF and ALE, respectively. While, the superior enhancement result in the serum activity of ALT, AST, ALP, antioxidant enzymes and level of MDA was shown in the treated obese groups by ALE followed by AF and AG, respectively. Microscopic examination of liver sections from control obese rats marked steatosis, portal inflammatory cell infiltration in the hepatic sinusoids and degeneration of the hepatic parenchyma. While, liver sections of treated obese rats with accomplished HFD with AG and AF revealed fewer inflammatory cells infiltration. Oral administration of ALE resulted in fewer random mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration with slight vacuolar degeneration of the hepatic parenchyma in obese rats. Microscopic examination of kidney sections from control obese rats marked perivascular inflammatory cells infiltration and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelium in the renal cortex. Meanwhile treated obese rats with AG have apparently normal renal tubules in the renal cortex with mild focal interstitial nephritis. While, kidney sections from treated obese rats with ALE and AF revealed excessive vacuolation of the renal tissue and perivascular edema with fewer inflammatory cells infiltration. Finally, the study concluded that regular intakes of gum, leaves aqueous extract and fruits of Arar, particularly for those who are obese or overweight, in order to reduce the adverse effects of obesity.