Abstract
There are no medical drugs that provide an acceptable weight loss with minimal adverse effects. This study evaluated the Moringa peregrina (MP) seed extract's anti‐obesity effect. Twenty‐four (6/each group) male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into group Ι (control), group ΙΙ (high‐fat diet [HFD]), group ΙΙΙ (HFD+ MP [250 mg/kg b.wt]), and group ΙV (HFD+ MP [500 mg/kg b.wt]). MP administration significantly ameliorated body weight gains and HFD induced elevation in cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and reduced HDL. Moreover, MP seed oil showed high free radical‐scavenging activity, delayed β‐carotene bleaching and inhibited lipoprotein and pancreatic lipase enzymes. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed three major active components: crypto‐chlorogenic acid, isoquercetin, and astragalin. Both quantitative Real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) and western blotting revealed that MP seeds oil significantly decreased the expression of lipogenesis‐associated genes such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors gamma (PPARγ) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) and significantly elevated the expression of lipolysis‐associated genes (acetyl‐CoA carboxylase1, ACCl). The oil also enhanced phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase alpha (AMPK‐α) and suppressed CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β (C/EBPβ). In conclusion, administration of M. peregrina seeds oil has anti‐obesity potential in HFD‐induced obesity in rats.
Practical applications
M. peregrina seeds oil had a potential anti‐obesity activity that may be attributed to different mechanisms. These included decreasing body weight, and body mass index and improving lipid levels by decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL‐C, and increasing HDL‐C. Also, M. peregrina seeds oil regulated adipogenesis‐associated genes, such as downregulating the expression of (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS) and improving and upregulating the expression and phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACCl. Despite that M. peregrina extract has reported clear anti‐obesity potential through animal and laboratory studies, the available evidence‐based on human clinical trials are very limited. Therefore, further studies are needed that could focus on clinical trials investigating anti‐obesity potential different mechanisms of M. peregrina extract in humans.
Moringa peregrina seeds oil showed a potential anti‐obesity activity by decreasing body weight, BMI, decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL‐C, and increasing HDL‐C. Also, M. peregrina seeds oil regulated adipogenesis‐associated genes, such as downregulating the expression of (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS) and upregulating the expression and phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACCl.