Abstract
Obesity is characterized by the expanded mass of adipose tissue, which is accompanied by fat accumulation. Adipose tissue is imperative for energy balance, as indicated by the metabolic necessities of the life form. This study made a comparison between commercially used anti-obesity drugs (Orlistat and Chitosan) and ginger as a natural weight management plant, on rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) in order to explore some side effects of the drugs. Fifty albino rats were classified into five groups: control, HFD, HFD supplemented with dietary ginger, HFD supplemented with Orlistat and HFD supplemented with Chitosan. Results showed that all different treatments had a significant effect on reducing the body weight and lipid profile. Ginger supplementation increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol compared with other treatments; it also did not change total bilirubin and pancreatic lipase activity, but Orlistat and Chitosan lowered the concentrations. A HFD changed levels of hepatic mRNA expression of glucose transporter-2 and pyruvate kinase, which were then counteracted by ginger, Orlistat and Chitosan. In conclusion, Orlistat and Chitosan reduce body weight by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, whereas ginger has a greater capability in reducing body weight without affecting the bilirubin concentration or inhibiting the pancreatic lipase level, with a positive effect on increasing HDL-cholesterol and peroxisomal catalase levels, suggesting that ginger has excellent potential against HFD-induced obesity.