Mohammad Rafiul Haque1*, Shahid Husain Ansari1 and Abul Kalam Najmi3
1Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 62, INDIA.
2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nager, New Delhi 62, INDIA.
Pharmacognosy Communications,2013,3,4,49-57.
DOI:10.5530/pc.2013.4.7
Published:December 2013
Type:Research Article
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cuminum cyminum L. (Fam. Apiaceae) is a widely consumed spice. It is a rich sources of essential oils and has been actively researched for its chemical composition and biological activities. Aims: The study aimed to investigate the antiobesity effects of Cuminum cyminum L. distillates (CD) in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. Methods: Twenty four male rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD), HFD + CD and HFD + orlistat. The CD was administered orally 7.75 ml/kg/twice a day for 4 weeks. Results: The CDtreated group significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the body weight gain, fat-pad weights, serum and hepatic lipids levels, insulin, glucose, leptin and pancreatic lipase activity in HFD-induced obese rats. The histological analysis revealed that the CD-treated group showed a remarkable reduction of macro vesicular steatosis in hepatic tissues and a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets and size of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that CD treatment has a protective effect against a high-fat-diet-induced obesity in rats through the decreased activity in lipogenesis, as well as the increase in fatty acid oxidation and reduced intestinal absorption of dietary fat.
Keywords: Apiaceae, Cuminum cyminum, antiobesity, high-fat-diet, rats.