Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract ameliorate fat amassment and serum TNF–in high–fat diet–induced obese rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ethanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria fruit (ELSF) on fat amassment and serum TNF– α in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.MethodsThe high fat diet induced obese rats were orally treated with orlistat (50 mg/kg) and ELSF (100, 200, 300 mg/kg/day) to the respective treatment groups. The body weight, fasting blood glucose level, lipid profile, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor– α (TNF–α) in rats were measured after 30 days of treatment and compared to the obese control animals.ResultsELSF significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the body weight gain, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein and TNF–α.ConclusionsThese encouraging findings suggest that Lagenaria siceraria has excellent pharmacological potential to prevent fat amassment.