No abstract

Obesity is a major public health problem. Weight loss or weight gain needs an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. The present study examined the possible protective effects of colocynth oil and fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) of Citrullus colocynthis seed oil consumption against obesity in rats. Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. The rats were treated orally with sunflower oil (4%), colocynth oil (4%), and FAMEs (4%) alone or in combination with 28% sunflower oil (high-fat diet) for 8 weeks. The colocynth oil and FAMEs decreased the levels of plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides while highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) and body weight were significantly decreased. FAMEs and colocynth oil intake significantly prevented high-fat diet induced increases in body weight and visceral fat mass. Rats fed with FAMEs showed anti-obesity effects, as marked by a significant decrease in body and adipose tissue weights. These results indicated that the oral administration of FAMEs for 60 days significantly reduced abdominal fat index, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and hepatic lipids, a result that may support the use of FAMES as a hypolipidemic agent in obesity related disorders.