Modulatory effect of a polyphenolic rich extract of Dacryodes macrophylla berries on biomarkers of metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in rats fed High Fat- High Sucrose diet

Bioactive compounds in fruits have been associated  with improvement of markers of metabolic syndrome as well as the prevention of oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of the extract of Dacryodes macrophylla against weight gain and oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed with a High Fat-High Sucrose (HFHS) diet. Changes in body weight, lipid profile, transaminases, creatinine, oxidative stress markers, catalase, nitric oxide, and total antioxidant capacity of plasma (TAC) were evaluated. To achieve this, the hydroethanolic of D. macrophylla fruits was prepared, by maceration in the water: ethanol(1:1v/v), for 48hrs. The obtained extract was used to evaluate its preventive effect against weight gain/obesity and oxidative stress in rats fed with HFHS diet for 45days. The HFHS diet was observed to increase body weight, plasma triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and decrease thiol proteins and catalase activity. Treatment, especially with the 200mg/kg/bw dose of hydroethanolic extract of Dacryodes macrophylla (DMHE) reversed the effects of the diet on these parameters. From these results it can be concluded that the crude organic extract of Dacryodes macrophylla berries could have anti-obesity/overweight and antioxidant properties.Bioactive compounds in fruits have been associated  with improvement of markers of metabolic syndrome as well as the prevention of oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of the extract of Dacryodes macrophylla against weight gain and oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed with a High Fat-High Sucrose (HFHS) diet. Changes in body weight, lipid profile, transaminases, creatinine, oxidative stress markers, catalase, nitric oxide, and total antioxidant capacity of plasma (TAC) were evaluated. To achieve this, the hydroethanolic of D. macrophylla fruits was prepared, by maceration in the water: ethanol(1:1v/v), for 48hrs. The obtained extract was used to evaluate its preventive effect against weight gain/obesity and oxidative stress in rats fed with HFHS diet for 45days. The HFHS diet was observed to increase body weight, plasma triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and decrease thiol proteins and catalase activity. Treatment, especially with the 200mg/kg/bw dose of hydroethanolic extract of Dacryodes macrophylla (DMHE) reversed the effects of the diet on these parameters. From these results it can be concluded that the crude organic extract of Dacryodes macrophylla berries could have anti-obesity/overweight and antioxidant properties.