European Journal of Medicinal Plants

Antiobesity effect of phenolic rich fractions of fresh fruits of Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum macrocapon on cafeteria diet (CD)-induced obesity was investigated using Wistar rats to explore the potential of S. macrocapon and S. aethiopicum in the management of obesity. Phenolic-rich extracts (free and bound phenolics) were obtained from S. macrocapon and S. aethiopicum by extraction with 80% (v/v) acetone and ethyl acetate respectively. Obesity was induced in Wistar rats with CD for 42 days after which they were treated with phenolic-rich extracts of S. aethiopicum and S. macrocapon at 200 mg/kg BW and 400 mg/kg BW for six weeks. Body weights and blood glucose were monitored weekly. Lipid profiles (Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), High Density Lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C), Very Low Density Lipoprotein – cholesterol (VLDL-C) and Low Density Lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C)), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, atherogenic coefficient (AC) and cardiac risk ratio (CRR) were estimated in the plasma. Treatment with phenolic-rich extracts of S. macrocapon and S. aethiopicum caused decrease in lee index, atherogenic coefficient, blood glucose level, plasma TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c,  ALT, AST, AC, CRR and increase in HDL-c, urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin concentrations relative to  the obese rats. Conclusively, the phenolic-rich extracts of S. macrocapon and S. aethiopicum possess antiobesity potential and could be employed in the management of obesity.