Ngondi JL

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.

Production of free radicals is a normal metabolic process which if uncontrolled can result in metabolic disturbances such as hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance. The management of metabolic syndrome as well as  type II diabetes, therefore should take into account the existence of these conditions: free radical production, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Irvingia wombolu (IW) has been previously shown to have antioxidant and antihyperglycemic potential in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. This study was conducted to establish the preventive effect of the aqueous pulp extracts (APE) and hydroethanolic peel extracts (HPE) of IW on a high fat-high fructose (HFHF) diet induced insulin resistance in rats. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of the extracts were determined. The animals were divided randomly into four groups of five rats each; the control group (C), those receiving only HFHF diet; rats receiving HFHF diet + APE and the group receiving HFHF + HPE. After an experimentation period that lasted six weeks, fasting blood glucose levels, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations, body and liver weight were measured. A protective effect of extracts during induction of insulin resistance by diet was notified by less increase of: fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides, post-prandial glycaemic peak.  Antioxidant status measured by FRAP antioxidant capacity; SOD, catalase, reduced glutathione and the level of reduced protein groups were also ameliorated. These results suggest that early APE and HPE administration to HFHF fed rats could prevent diabetes complications and modulate insulin resistance.