Antiobesity activity of methanolic extract of Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. (leaves) on Wistar albino rat model

Objective: The objective of research paper is to evaluate the antiobesity potential of methanolic extract of Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. (MELPR) (leaves) in obese Wistar albino rats induced with high-calorie diet (HCD). Materials and Methods: The plant extract of L. parviflora Roxb. (leaves) with different solvents was evaluated for the lipase inhibitory activity. The MELPR at different concentrations (200 and 300 mg/kg body weight [b.w.]) was administered orally and evaluated for the estimation of biochemical parameters (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT] and alkaline phosphatase), skin and behavioral activity, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (VLDL-C and LDL-C), and antiobesity potential. Histopathological evaluation was also performed. Results and Discussion: The pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory activity result indicated that hexane extract did not inhibit the PL, whereas methanolic extract showed 75% inhibitory activity. Hematological study indicates that hemoglobin concentration was increased in treated group compared to control group. Biochemical study results indicate that creatinine and urea levels were found to be little lowering in treated groups compared to control group. OGTT result data indicate a significant (P < 0.05) elevation in plasma glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in HCD control obese rats when compared to normal control rats. The antiobesity activities data indicate that HCD has substantially altered physiological and biochemical aspects. Administration of MELPR reduced significantly, b.w., total fat, fat percentage, blood glucose, insulin resistance, and lipid profile in a dose-dependent manner (200 and 300 mg/kg b.w.). Conclusion: The MELPR is non-toxic and safe up to 3000 mg/kg bodyweight in rats. Treatment with MELPR has dose dependently and significantly alleviated HCD-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, as supported by other studies. This study demonstrates the antihyperlipidemic and antiobesity potential of MELPR and offers scientific validation and basis to develop antiobesity drugs.