Fenugreek Seed Extract Inhibit Fat Accumulation and Ameliorates Dyslipidemia in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds (AqE-TFG) on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia in high fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese rats. Female Wistar rats were fed with HFD ad libitum, and the rats on HFD were treated orally with AqE-TFG or orlistat ((HFD for 28 days + AqE-TFG (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg) from day 8 to 28), respectively. Treatment with AqE-TFG produced significant reduction in body weight gain, body mass index (BMI), white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, blood glucose, serum insulin, lipids, leptin, lipase, and apolipoprotein-B levels and elevation in adiponectin levels. AqE-TFG improved serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. AqE-TFG treatment reduced the hepatic and cardiac thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and elevated the antioxidant enzyme (glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)) levels. In addition, liver and uterine WAT lipogenic enzyme (fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)) activities were restored towards normal levels. These findings demonstrated the preventive effect of AqE-TFG on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia, due to inhibition of impaired lipid digestion and absorption, in addition to improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism, enhancement of insulin sensitivity, increased antioxidant defense, and downregulation of lipogenic enzymes.

Furostanolic saponins from Trigonella foenum‐graecum alleviate diet‐induced glucose intolerance and hepatic fat accumulation

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that fenugreek attenuated body‐weight gain and improved insulin sensitivity . These beneficial effects of fenugreek have been attributed to the presence of an unusual amino acid 4‐hydroxyisoleucine .…”

Effect of Phytoestrogens on Lipid Profile: Mini Review

“…Diosgenin, which is used to make synthetic estrogen, is present in Fenugreek seeds. In 2014, Kumar et al stated the hypolipidemic effect of Fenugreek seed extract on high--fat diet-induced obese rats [54]. Abedinzade et al in 2015 reported the antihyperlipidemic effect of fenugreek seed extract in ovariectomized rats [55].…”

Fenugreek

“…It is a spirostanol saponin found in the seed and has been designated as the most bioactive com ponent of fenugreek (Raju and Rao, 2011). Saponins have been reported to play a role in lipid and glucose balance Neveen et al, 2007;Kassaian et al, 2009;Uemura et al, 2010), in prevention of fat deposition in adipocytes (Kumar et al, 2014;Vijayakumar et al, 2010), and in stimulation of growth hormone release from the pituitary (Shim et al, 2008). Saponins have been reported to play a role in lipid and glucose balance Neveen et al, 2007;Kassaian et al, 2009;Uemura et al, 2010), in prevention of fat deposition in adipocytes (Kumar et al, 2014;Vijayakumar et al, 2010), and in stimulation of growth hormone release from the pituitary (Shim et al, 2008).…”

“…The defatted fraction formed 93% of the seed powder after removal of the 7% hexaneseparated lipid fraction. More recently, Kumar et al (2014) investigated the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of fenugreek seeds (AqETFG) on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia induced in rats fed the HFD. The human equivalent dose for this rat dose calculated to nearly 3.8 g/kg/ day.…”