METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF Abutilon indicum ATTENUATES ADIPOSITY AND DYSLIPIDAEMIA IN HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESE SWISS ALBINO MICE: BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder that rarely travels alone; it is usually accompanied by abnormal blood lipids and disturbed glucose regulation. This study asked whether a methanolic leaf extract of Abutilon indicum (MEAI) could limit weight gain and metabolic disturbance in mice made obese with a high-fat diet (HFD), with orlistat serving as the reference drug.
Methods: Leaves of A. indicum were extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was screened phytochemically and its total flavonoid and total phenolic contents were measured. Swiss albino mice were divided into five groups (n = 6 per group): normal control, HFD control, orlistat (10 mg/kg), MEAI (200 mg/kg) and MEAI (400 mg/kg). Treatments were given orally from day 22 to day 49 of a 49-day HFD protocol. We followed body weight, feed intake, body mass index (BMI), Lee index, serum biochemistry, organ weights and histopathology.
Results: The extract yield was 22% w/w. Preliminary screening showed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, steroids and glycosides. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents were 34.92 ± 1.161 mg QE/g and 207.40 ± 2.347 mg GAE/g of crude extract, respectively. At week 7, MEAI-treated mice weighed 28% (200 mg/kg) and 37% (400 mg/kg) less than HFD controls, and the lipid profile moved in the same favourable direction. In general, the 400 mg/kg dose outperformed the 200 mg/kg dose. Liver and mesenteric fat-pad histology also showed less marked HFD-related change in treated animals.
Conclusion: MEAI appears to have anti-obesity and lipid-modulating activity in this mouse model. Before any claim about therapeutic value can be made, the findings need confirmation with fully documented statistics, a chemically standardized extract and a proper safety assessment.