Effect of ethanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa on high fat diet- induced obesity in Wistar rats

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of ethanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa on high fat diet induced obesity in Wistar rats. Methods In the present study, male Wistar rats were selected and fed with HFD for 4 weeks. They were then treated with different doses of Cuscuta reflexa (200 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.o.d.) for 6 weeks along with HFD. Orlistat (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.o.d.), a potent lipase inhibitor and standard drug for obesity was used as a standard control in the present study. The effects of these treatments on body weight parameters, feed intake (Kcal), levels of serum glucose, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were analyzed. Results Treatment with ethanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa produced significant dose dependent decrease in the body weight, BMI, Lee's index, feed intake (in Kcal) as compared to HFD treated rats. Oral administration of graded doses of Cuscuta reflexa extract caused reduction in the levels of serum TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and glucose and the level of HDL was enhanced as compared to HFD fed group. Conclusion The results suggest that administration of Cuscuta reflexa can inhibit the development of obesity in HFD-induced obesity.