EFFECT OF SOME DRUGS AND HERBS ON EXPERIMENTAL RATS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY.

Introduction:

Over the past 20 years obesity has become a worldwide concern of frightening proportion. The World Health Organization estimates that there are over 400 million obese and over 1.6 billion overweight adults, a figure which is projected to almost double by 2015. This is not a disease restricted to adults – at least 20 million children under the age of 5 years were overweight in 2005(WHO,  2006).

Obesity is a major public health concern because it increases the risk for many chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cancer (Zhang &Reisin 2000; Lyznicki et al., 2001 and Calle et al., 2003).

Obesity is becoming a fast growing public health problem, and a high percentage of the population is facing this problem, especially in the developed countries. It can be successfully controlled by weight loss to reach the recommended ideal weight. Most obese patients are under cardiovascular risk factors (Lucaset al., 2003).

Dietary fat is consideredto be one of the important environmental factors contributingto the obesity (Peters, 2003).  Fat content is one of the mainfactors influencing the energy density of diets and an increasein energy density was shown to result in excess intake of calories; passive over consumptionin humans in turn promotes the development of obesity (Westerterp-Plantenga, 2004).

Clinical interventionstudies have provided sound evidence that an ad libitum high-proteindiet from mixed sources in free-living overweight people increasesthe amount of weight lost in a 6-month weight-loss program (by3.8 kg), compared with a high-carbohydrate diet by enhancingsatiety (Skov et al., 1999).  A higher protein intake during weight loss may also prevent some of the inevitable loss of lean body mass and, thus, may enhance insulin sensitivity (Baba et al., 1999).

Different medications have been employed in the pharmacological treatment of obesity. Orlistat (tetrahydrolipstatin) is a covalent inhibitor of digestive lipases . Orlistat is derived from lipstatin, a naturalproduct of Streptomyces toxytricini . It is an active site -directedinhibitor that reacts with the nucleophilic serine residue fromthe catalytic triad of pancreatic lipase  (Tiss et al., 2002) . Orlistat helps to lose weight by inhibiting and subsequently preventing the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids. One of the side effects of orlistat is gastrointestinal symptoms. It caused increment of defecation, liquid and lipoid feces in 10-30% of obese patients who took 360 mg/day dose Orlistat (Joyce et al., 1998).

Chitocal (Chitosan) is an extraordinary fat binder and carbohydrate bluster. It is an amino polysaccharide that has the ability to bind the lipid in the intestine so it reduces the absorption of fat, by in return it reduces the blood lipid profile and prevents obesity and heart diseases (Keiji et al ., 1994). Under optimal conditions, Chitosan can bind an average of 8 to 12 times its weight with all the lipid aggregates tested (Nauss et al., 1993).

NeOpuntia is a natural fiber made from dehydrated leaves of a cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) . NeOpuntia is a complex of insoluble dietary fibers   " Neofibers " and soluble polysaccharide dietary fibers  " Neomicel " (Stintzing and Carle, 2005).

Jamu Tea is extracted from plant essence taken from roots, foliage, barks and other ingredients that contain vitamins and minerals which have traditionally been used in the Far East for centuries and have been passed on through generations.  The ingredients of Jamu tea is from,  folium extract (80%), parameriae extract (6%), guazumae extract (6%), foeniculum vulgars (4%),  and curcumae extract (4%) (Lily and Judith,1999).

Therefore, the present work was conducted to study the effect of Orlistat , Chitosan , Neopuntia and Jamu Tea, on weight loss, lipid profile, liver function, glucose andkidney functions of obese rats fed on high protein high fat diet.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Materials:

-         Casein, all vitamins, minerals, cellulose, L -Cystine and choline chloride were obtained from El–Gomhoriya company, Cairo, Egypt.

-         Beef tallow, sucrose, starch and corn oil  were obtained from local market, Cairo, Egypt.

-         Xenical as source of Orlistat, chitocal as source of chitosan were obtained from the pharmacies , CairoEgypt.

-         NeOpuntia and Jamu Teawere obtained from local market, Saudi Arabia.

-         Normal male albino rats (36) of Sprague Dawley Strain obtained from the Laboratory Animal Colony. Ministry of Health and Population, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt.

-         Kits: kits used to determine serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, HDL-c, VLDL-c, glucose , AST, ALT, uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine are obtained from Gama tread Company, Cairo, Egypt.

Methods:

Preparation of Jamu tea:

A Jamu Tea extracted according to the method described by (Jonathan et al., 2000), 3bags from Jamu Tea will be extracted, by putting the tea bags, for 4 min in 250 ml boiled water, then herbs beverages were extracted from the mixture after this step. Water extracts were prepared freshly every day.

Biological Investigation:

Male  albino rats sprague Dawley Strain (36 rats) weighing (200 ± 5 g) were housed in well aerated cages under hygienic condition and fed on basal diet for one week for adaptation. The basal diet consists of 14 % protein from casein (≥ 80 %), 5% soya oil , 0. 25 % choline chloride, 1 % vitamin mixture, 3.5% salt mixture, 5 % cellulose, 0.18 % L – cystine and the remainder (71.07 %) is corn starch (Reeves et al ., 1993). The salt mixture was prepared according to Hegested et al., (1941) and the vitamin mixture was prepared according to (A.O.A.C. 1975).

After adaptation period, the rats were divided into two main groups as follows:  The first main group (6 rats) fed on basal diet (as a control negative group). The second main group (30 rat) was fed 6 week on high fat diet HFD containing (beef tallow 19%, corn oil 1% to provide essential fattyacids, sucrose 10%, casein 20%, cellulose 5%, vitamin mixture 1%, salt mixture 3.5%, choline chloride 0.25% and the remainder is corn starch) to induce obesity in rats (Min et al., 2004) to induce obesity.

After these periods, the mean value of body weight % was estimated in the two main groups, also blood samples were collected from all rats  to estimate the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides  (healthy rats was 135.284 ± 4.531 mg/dl cholesterol and 55.852 ±  2.773 mg/dl triglycerides), while the second main group recorded (175.664 ± 5.658 mg/dl cholesterol and 70.278 ±  5.862 mg/dl triglycerides), then the rats were divided into five subgroups  (n = 6 each) according to the following scheme: Subgroup (1) fed on high fat and high protein diet  (20% fat and 20% protein) as a positive control. Subgroup (2) fed on high fat and high protein diet  and treated daily with 5 mg orlistat/ rat. Subgroup (3) fed on high fat and high protein diet  and treated daily with 5 mg chitosan/ rat. Subgroup (4) fed on high fat and high protein diet   and treated daily with 5 mg Neopuntia/ rat. Subgroup (5) fed on high fat and high protein diet  and treated daily with 5 ml Jamu tea/ rat.

During the experimental period (4 week), the diets consumed and body weights were recorded twice weekly.

At the end of the experiment, the animals were fasted overnight, then the rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed, and blood samples were collected from the aorta. The blood samples were centrifuged and serum was separated to estimate some biochemical parameters, i.e. serum cholesterol according to (Allain et al., 1974), triglycerids (Foster and Dumns, 1973), high density lipoprotein HDL-c (Lopes-Virella et al., 1977), low density lipoprotein LDL-c and VLDL-c (Fried Wald et al., 1972), aspartate amine transaminase (AST) and alanine amine transaminase (ALT) (Ritman and Frankel, 1957), glucose (Trinder 1959), uric acid (Fossati et al., 1980), urea nitrogen (Patton & Crouch 1977) and creatinine Bohmer (1971).

Results of biological evaluation of each group were statistically analyzed (mean ± standard deviation and one way ANOVA test) using SAS package and compared with each other using the suitable test (least significant differences at P< 0.05. (SAS, 1996).  

Results and Discussion:

Effect of some drugs and herbs on food intake and weights of obese rats.

The effect of some drugs (Orlistat and Chitosan) and herbs (Neopuntia and Jamu Tea) on food intake (g/day for each rat) and weights in obese rats are presented in table (1).

Food intake  (g/day for each rat).

The mean value of food intake in health group fed on basal diet in (control –ve group) increased than that of obese  group fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat (17.857 vs. 16.369 g/day for each rat, respectively).

Food intake in obese groups which were treated with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 mg chitosan / rat),  (5 mg Neopuntia / rat) and (5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat)  had the lowest food intake, compared with the normal group (Control –ve group). The mean value of food intake in obese groups fed on diet containing (20% protein and 20% fat) and treated with Orlistat and chitosan increased, while treated obese rats with neopuntia and jamu Tea led to decrease in the mean value of food intake as compared to the positive control group.

 Weights of rats (g).

Table (1) showed the follow-up  development  in weight of normal, obese and obese rats which were treating with orlistat, chitosan, neopuntia and jamu tea   during the experiment. Data in this table showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in the weight of normal group (control –ve group) in the initial of the experimental period, as compared to obese group (control +ve group) and obese groups which were treated with the two types of (drugs and  herbs).

Feeding obese groups with diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat and treating with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 mg chitosan / rat),  (5 mg Neopuntia / rat) and (5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat) led to significant decrease (p<0.05) in the weight at the medium and final of the experiment, as compared to the positive control group. On the other hand, all treated groups with drugs or herbs showed significant increase in the weight, as compared to the negative control group.

Group of rats which were treated with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 mg chitosan / rat) recorded significant decrease (p<0.05)  in the weight, as compared to treated  groups with  (5 mg Neopuntia / rat) and (5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat).

Body Weight Gain % (BWG%).

Body weight gain % of obese rats fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat (control +ve) increased significantly p<0.05, as compared to the negative control group fed on basal diet (Table 1). Treated groups with (5 mg orlistat/ rat) or  (5 mg chitosan / rat) resulted in the highest decrease in BWG%, as compared to  (control +ve) and other treated groups.

In this respect, (Wickelgren, 1998) defined the obesity, as an increase in mass of adipose tissue, confers a higher risk for metabolic diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke and an increased incidence of morbidity.

Sjostrom et al., (1998) showedthat orlistat is minimally (<1%) absorbed from the gastrointestinaltract, promotes significant weight loss when used in conjunctionwith a mildly hypoenergetic diet, and lowers blood lipid concentrations. On the other hand, David,( 2003) reported that, orlistat is the only approved inhibitor of the gastrointestinallipases, predominantly pancreatic lipase, necessary for thehydrolysis of triglyceride to free fatty acids in the lumenof the gut. Because this agent can reduce the absorption ofdietary fat by up to 30%, it produces weight loss comparableto or greater than that obtained by placing an individual ona fat-restricted diet.

Chitosan is an aminopolysacharide, derived from "Chitin". Chitin is found in plankton and the exoskeletons (shells) of crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster or crab. Researchers have been doing clinical studies on chitosan as a natural weight loss agent and as a fiber for adding bulk to the digestive system and for colon cleaning (Shahram, 1992). Our results agree with Abelin and Lassus (1994) who showed that individuals taking chitosan lost an average of 8 percent of their body weight in a 4-week period.

Ennouri et al., (2005) evaluate some biological parameters in rats fed with a supplemented diet with Opuntia ficus indica powder seeds. Feed intake and body weight of rats were measured every two days during nine weeks of treatment. The results indicated a significant decrease in body weight of rats receiving a diet partially substituted with O. ficus indica powder seeds, probably due to a significant decrease in serum-free thyroxin (FT₄) compared to the control group.

Green tea in the presence of  Jamu Tea is a metabolic stimulant and has been used for weight loss , its polyphenol content acids in body fat loss; prevents free-radical damage ; is an anticoagulant ; lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL ; lowers blood cholesterol ; maintains blood sugar levels and reduces the effects of food poisoning (Kirschmann , 1996).

Merina , (2005) reported that, Standardized green tea extract is found to be very effective for reducing obesity and abdominal fat in human volunteers. The other advantage of standardized extracts is that the dosage can be defined. The average dosage of green tea extract is 500-1500 mg/day.

Effect of some drugs and herbs on lipid profile (mg/dl) of obese rats.

The effect of some drugs (orlistat and chitosan) and herbs (neopuntia and Jamu tea) on serum cholesterol and triglycerides on obese rats are presented in table (2). The data in this table showed that, total cholesterol in obese rats fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased the mean value of serum cholesterol significantly p <0.05, as compared to healthy rats fed on basal diet (control –ve group). Feeding obese group on a diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and treated with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 mg chitosan / rat) and(5 mg neopuntia / rat) resulted in decrease in total cholesterol, while treated rats with  (5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat) showed nonsignificant differences, as compared to the positive control group.

Treating obese rats which fed on diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) with orlistat achieved the highest decrease in serum cholesterol, as compared to other tested groups.

Table (2) illustrated that, feeding obese rats on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased serum triglycerides and VLDL-c significantly p<0.05, as compared with the negative control group. Serum triglycerides and VLDL-c in obese groups fed on diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and (treated with orlistat, chitosan and neopuntia) decreased significantly p<0.05, while treated obese rats with jamu tea showed nonsignificant changes in this parameter, as compared to the positive control group.

The highest decrease in serum triglycerides and VLDL-c recorded for the treated group with chitosan, following by orlistat, while the lowest decrease in this parameter recorded for the treated group neopuntia and jamu tea.

Untreated obese rats fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat (control +ve group) revealed significant decrease p<0.05 in the mean value of serum HDL-c, compared with the healthy group fed on basal diet. Data in this table showed that, feeding obese rats on diet containing (20% protein and 20% fat) and treated  daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat, 5 mg chitosan / rat, 5 mg neopuntia / rat or 5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat) led to significant increase p<0.05 in the mean value of serum HDL-c, as compared to the positive control group.

The best results in HDL-c recorded for the group fed on diet containing (20% protein and 20% fat) and treated daily with  (5 mg chitosan / rat), followed by the groups which treated daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat and  5 mg neopuntia / rat), respectively.

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-c, increased significantly in the positive control group fed on diet containing (20% protein and 20% fat), as compared to the negative control group fed on basal diet. Results in this table revealed that, all treated groups with (5 mg orlistat/ rat, 5 mg chitosan / rat, 5 mg neopuntia / rat or 5 ml  Jamu Tea / rat) decreased the mean value of serum LDL-c, as compared to the positive control group.

Treating obese rats daily with (5mg orlistat/ rat, 5 mg chitosan / rat and 5 mg neopuntia / rat) led to decrease the mean value of LDL-c by about (17.708 mg/dl to 20.825 mg/dl), than that of the positive control group.

From our results, it could be observed that, treating obese rats with Orlistat, chitosan, neopuntia and jamu tea improved the lipid fractions. In this respect,Pi-Sunyer (1996) reported that, improvement in concentrationsof cholesterol and triacylglycerols resulted from therapywith orlistat. As a result of its effect on the body's abilityto absorb dietary fats, orlistat is known to be associated withan increased incidence of gastrointestinal events in its users.

Orlistat is a gastric and pancreatic lipase inhibitor that altersenergy balance by reducing the absorption of triglyceride andcholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract (Mittendorfer et al., 2001). In adults,orlistat, at the standard dose of 120 mg three times daily,inhibits  30% of triglyceride absorption (Guerciolini, 1997).

In placebo-controlledstudies, adults treated with orlistat for periods as long as2 years exhibited greater average weight loss, better weightmaintenance, lower total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-cholesterol), and improved glycemic control for patientswith type 2 diabetes (Rossner et al., 2000). Also (Zhi et al., 1994 and Muls et al., 2001) reported that, during weight loss, orlistat reducedfat absorption, as shown by a decrease in serum LDL cholesterolthat was expected, andthat corresponds to an   25% decrease in cholesterol absorptionand a 30% decrease in fat absorption.

Macchi (1996) demonstrated that chitosan is useful in the treatment of obesity because it enhances the loss of body fat and acts to normalize plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels, possibly with an increase of HDL-cholesterol. Greater effects are obtained when chitosan is associated with a hypocaloric diet.

One clinical study showed that in five weeks, total cholesterol as reduced by a whopping 32% when using chitosan (Kobayashi et al., 1999). Another study showed that rats fed chitosan had decreased liver cholesterol levels 60% lower than the control group after 4 weeks (Sugano et al., 1998).

Alternatively, it is possible that the cholesterol-loweringeffect of chitosan is due to an increase in the viscosity of  intestinal contents. Increased intestinal contents supernatantviscosity is highly correlated with reduced plasma and livercholesterol (Gallaher et al. 1993^a and 1993^b ) and reductionsin cholesterol absorption (Carr et al. 1996 ) in hamsters. Recently, chitosan (CS) has been examined as an alternative therapy, since oral administration of CS leads to decreased serum cholesterol levels (Ylitalo et al., 2002).

The consumption of fresh or dehydrated leaves of Opuntia ficus-indica has been studied in animal models, in order to evaluate the effects on lipid metabolism. One of the first studies was performed on laboratory rats, showing that consumption of Opuntia ficus-indica induced a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 34%, without affecting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (Cardenas et al., 1998) . A more recent study demonstrated, a significant  reduction in cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride plasma levels in hypercholesterolemic rats following daily administration of lyophilized leaves of Opuntia ficus-indica (Galati et al.,2003).

The green tea and curcumin presented on Jamu tea affect on lipid metabolism. In this respect, Yuan et al.,(2006) studied The anti-obesity and lipid-lowering effects of green tea consumption in middle-aged adults. A total of 3317 individuals were included. Consumption of green tea significantly decreased serum total cholesterol (p<0.01), low density lipoprotein (P<0.01) and triglycerides (P<0.01); the incidence of obesity was also lowered by green tea consumption (P<0.05). The relation was enhanced after adjusting for age, sex, smoking habits, alcohol intake and exercise time.

Effect of some drugs and herbs on serum glucose and liver enzymes of obese rats.

Serum glucose (mg/dl).

The effect of some drugs (orlistat and chitosan) and herbs (Neopuntia and Jamu tea) on serum glucose (mg/dl) and AST & ALT enzymes (U/L) on obese rats are presented in table (3). The data in this table  showed that, serum glucose in obese rats fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased significantly p <0.05, as compared to healthy rats fed on basal diet.

Feeding obese group on a diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and treated daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 mg chitosan / rat), (5 mg Neopuntia / rat) and (5ml jamu tea/rat) resulted in decrease the mean value of serum glucose, as compared to the positive control group. On the other hand, statistical analysis revealed that, treating obese rats daily with (5mg orlistat or 5mg chitosan / rat) led to significant decrease p<0.05, as compared to treated groups with  (5 mg neopuntia / rat or 5ml jamu tea/rat).

Aspartate and Alanine Amine Transaminase AST& ALT (U/L) :

Table (3) illustrated that, feeding obese rats on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased serum AST & ALT enzymes significantly p<0.05, as compared with the negative control group (20.333± 2.251 and 7.667± 0.517) vs. (15.667± 1.211 and 6.167± 0.753), respectively.

Serum AST enzymes in all obese groups fed on diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and treated daily with (orlistat, chitosan, neopuntia and jamu tea) decreased significantly p<0.05, as compared to the positive control group. On the other hand, all tested groups which treated with drugs or herbs recorded nonsignificant differences in AST enzymes, except group of rats which treated with chitosan, as compared to the negative control group.

Concerning  ALT enzymes. The results indicated that, some treatment showed nonsignificant changes in ALT enzymes, as compared to the negative and positive control groups such as, (the treatment with chitosan and neopuntia), while other treatment showed significant decrease p<0.05 in ALT, as compared to the positive control group i.e. (orlistat and jamu tea).

In this respect, (Steven et al.,2000) reported that, the addition or orlislat to a conventional weight loss regimen significantly improved oral glucose tolerance and diminished the rate or progression to the development of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes.

Sugiyama et al., (1999), who reported that feeding rats on diet  supplemented with the powder of  green tea GT extract showed a significant decrease in serum AST and ALT compared with control. Studies by Arteel et al., (2002) also noted that there was a significant lowering in the activities of AST and ALT in rats treated with GT extract in the diet.  Recently, curcumin has been considered a potentially importantchemopreventive agent against cancer and raising the possibility that it mightbe useful in preventing alcoholic liver disease (Shukla & Arora 2003 and Amin et al., 2003 ).

Effect of some drugs and herbs on kidney function of obese rats.

The effect of some drugs (orlistat and chitosan) and herbs (neopuntia and Jamu tea) on serum uric acid, urea nitrogen and creatinine (mg/dl) of obese rats are presented in table (4).

Uric acid (mg/dl).

The data in this table  showed that, serum uric acid in obese rats fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased significantly p <0.05, as compared to healthy rats fed on basal diet (control –ve group).

Feeding obese groups on a diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and treated daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat),  (5 chitosan/ rat), (5 mg neopuntia / rat) and (5ml jamu tea/rat) led to significant decrease  (p<0.05) in the mean value of serum uric acid, as compared to the positive control group. Statistical analysis in this table revealed that, the lowest mean value of serum uric acid recorded for the treated obese rats daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat), followed by the groups treated with (5 chitosan/ rat) and (5 mg neopuntia / rat), while the highest mean value of serum uric acid recorded for the group treated daily with (5ml jamu tea/rat).

Urea nitrogen (mg/dl).

Table (4) illustrated that, feeding obese rats on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat increased serum urea nitrogen significantly p<0.05, as compared with the negative control group. Serum urea nitrogen in all obese groups fed on diet containing (20% protein & 20% fat) and treated daily with (orlistat, chitosan, neopuntia and jamu tea) decreased significantly p<0.05, as compared to the positive control group. On the other hand nonsignificant differences in serum urea nitrogen were observed between all treated obese groups with drugs and herbs used in this study.

Creatinine (mg/dl). 

The comparison between the negative control group (- ve), the positive control groups (obese group fed on diet containing 20% protein and 20% fat) and treated obese groups with orlistat, chitosan, neopuntia and jamu tea in the levels of serum creatinine, are summarized in table (4). All treated obese groups with the drugs or herbs used in this study showed significant decrease p<0.05 in serum creatinine, as compared to the positive control group. The highest decrease in serum creatinine recorded for the groups treated daily with (5 mg orlistat/ rat) and (5 chitosan/ rat), followed by other treated groups. 

Henegar et al., (2001) reported that, obesity and high-fat diets are linked with kidney dysfunction in rats and dogs. Also Jing, et al., (2003) confirm thathigh dietary fat worsens early disease progression in this modelof renal disease, and further demonstrate that diets with oilscontaining (n-3) fatty acids ameliorate some of the detrimentaleffects of a high fat diet.

The effects of chitosan have been investigated on eighty patients with renal failure undergoing  long-term stable haemodialysis treatment. The patients were fed 30 chitosan (45 mg chitosan/tablet) three times a day. Significant reductions In urea and creatinine levels in serum were observed after a weeks of chitosan ingestion. The feeling of physical strength, the appetite and the sleep of patients in the treatment group had improved  significantly after 12 weeks of ingestion, compared with those of patients in the control group (Jing et al., 1997).

Yokozawa et al. (2003) reported that green tea GT polyphenol is effective against renal failure in rats. GT polyphenol administered to rats at a daily dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days with a 2% arginine diet decreased serum levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen. The protective effect can be attributed to a decrease in uremic toxins and nitric oxide production and an increase in the renal activities of the oxygen species-scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalaze.

Table (1): Effect of some drugs and herbs on food intake and weights of obese rats.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD.  Significance at p<0.05. BWG%           :

Body weight gain %.

Values which don’t share the same letter in each column  are significantly different.

Table (2): Effect of some drugs and herbs on lipid profile of obese rats.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD.  Significance at p<0.05.

BWG%            : Body weight gain %.            

Values which don’t share the same letter in each column  are significantly different.           

TG: Triglycerides. HDL-c: High density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL-c: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

VLDL-c: Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol

Table (3): Effect of some drugs and herbs on serum glucose  and liver enzymes of obese rats.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Significance at p<0.05.          

Values which don’t share the same letter in each column  are significantly different.

Table (4): Effect of some drugs and herbs on kidney functions of obese rats.

Values are expressed as mean ± SD. Significance at p<0.05.          

Values which don’t share the same letter in each column  are significantly different.