Ameliorative Effects of Alchornea cordifolia Extract on Bisphenol A-Induced Obesity in Wistar rats

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Abstract
Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in plastic bottles and has been linked to obesity and its associated health problems. Due to the cost and possible side effects that are associated with the orthodox medications employed for weight management, there is a shift in attention to local medicinal plants as they are readily available and are believed to be free from negative side effects. One plant that has found application for weight loss amongst the local population in Nigeria is Alchornea cordifolia which commonly grows in Africa and has been confirmed to possess numerous medicinal properties which include; anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, hepaprotective, antiviral, and anti-diabetic effects. Objective: To investigate the effects of Alchornea cordifolia ethanol extract (ACEA) against the harmful impacts caused by BPA-induced obesity in Wistar rats. Methods ACEA was prepared and tested on BPA-induced Wistar rats. Thirty (30) young male Wistar rats were divided into five groups with six rats per group where Group 1 (Normal control) received commercial feed and water only, Group 2 (BPA) received commercial feed and 50 mg/kg of BPA, Group 3 (BPA + Orlistat (30 mg/kg), Group 4 (BPA + A.cordifolia (500 mg/kg)) ethanol extract of A.cordifolia, Group 5 (BPA + A.cordifolia(1000 mg/kg) ethanol extract of A.cordifolia. The parameters studied after obesity was induced and after treatments are; Anthropometric parameters; body weight, waist circumference, lees index and biochemical and kidney function parameters; fasting blood glucose, serum glucose, total protein, relative weight of the kidneys, serum levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid, concentrations of sodium, chloride, and potassium, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerides (TAG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) lipase, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and HMG-CoA reductase activity. Results Results showed that Bisphenol-A caused obesity and related complications after 4 weeks of administration as evidenced by the elevation of the anthropometric, biochemical and kidney function parameters. However, treatment with low (500 mg/kg) and high dose (1000 mg/kg) of A.cordifolia reduced the elevated levels of the anthropometric, biochemical and kidney function parameters in the Wistar rats. Conclusion The results obtained from this study demonstrates the potential of ACEA in the management of obesity and its related complications

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