PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF BARK OF PONGAMIA GLABRA VENT. FOR ANTI-OBESITY ACTIVITY AND EFFECT ON LIPID PROFILE AND HEPATIC ENZYMES

Abstract

Pongamia glabra is a native Indian subcontinent as well as south-east Asia drug used widely in many herbal formulations. The bark extract is used in the present study to evaluate its anti-obesity activity and its effect on lipid profile and hepatic enzyme. In-vivo studies were done using high fat diet along with DPMA model. Anti-obesity Evaluations included in the study was analysis of serum biochemical parameters (Serum Lipid Profile), determination of atherogenic index and coronary risk, Determination of Adiposity Levels, Fat Depot and Liver weight/Body weight Ratio (%) and histopathological analysis of liver tissues and adipose tissues. The results of the present study suggested that in actute toxicity studies, animals did not show any mortality at the dose of 500 mg/kg;bw. The Pongamia glabra bark at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight found to show strong reducing effect on serum TC, TG and LDL levels among the treatments. The atherogenic index and coronary risk index showed significant reduction when treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Pongamia glabra bark extract. A significant increase in Lee index was observed in rat fed with high fat dies. The study showed that Weight of different body fat depots i.e. epitdidymal, retroperitoneal, mesenteric fat depot and total fat were significantly increased in HFD group as compared to the normal control group of rat. The histopathological studies suggested that Pongamia glabra bark extracts suppress the enlargement of hepatocytes and the accumulation of vesicles in the hepatic tissues. The present study thus clearly indicates that Pongamia glabra stem bark has a significant anti-obesity effect which supports its traditional uses.