Effect of "Jin Batu" (Strobilanthes Crispus) Leaf Extract On Lipolysis in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of Jin Batu (Strobilanthes crispus) leaves extract (1% w/w) on diet-induced obese rats and to evaluate its potential development for the treatment of obesity. S. crispus leaves were extracted in chloroform-methanol (3:5), and the extracts were given in drinking water of obese rats. This experiment was divided into 2 phases. In the first phase, Sprague-Dawley rats (n=42) aged 4 months old (mature age) were given semipurified high-fat (HF) diet for 14 weeks to induce obesity. In the second phase, Obese rats were treated for another 14 weeks with 1% (w/w) chloroformmethanol extract ofS. crispus leaves. Results obtained in the first phase were as follows. After 14 weeks ofHF diet, 18 diet-induced rats were identified as obese based on the body weight gain. The obese rats had significantly (p <0.05) higher energy intake, adipose tissue and liver weights and plasma leptin levels compared to Normal rats. Obese rats also had higher feed efficiency and lower adipose tissue lipolysis and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression than Normal rats. A severe case of fatty liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) with the development of hepatic steatosis was also noted in Obese rats. No significant difference was found in mean food intake, HDL, LDL, cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, glycerol and insulin levels between Normal and Obese rats. In the second phase, Obese rats from HF diet treatment were divided into two groups; Obese and Obese + Treatment (OT). The use of Normal rats as positive control in the first phase was continued in the second phase. Only OT group was given S. crispus extract (1% w/w) in drinking water. High-Fat diet (during first phase) was switched to normal rat chow diet for all groups to imitate diet modification as a method of therapy in human. After 14 weeks of treatment with S. crispus extract, OT group was found to have lower mean body weight than control Obese group. The mean body weight gain and feed efficiency was also lowest in OT group when compared to Normal and Obese groups. However, for both results the difference was not significant. The anti-obesity effect of OT group was further confirmed with significantly (p <0.05) lower adipose tissue and liver weight and leptin level compared to Obese group. Lower glucose level and hepatic steatosis combined with high lipolysis rate and LPL mRNA expressed in adipose tissue was also noted in OT group. In conclusion, this study indicates that 1% (w/w) S. crispus extract has some antiobesity effect on obese rats especially in decreasing adipose tissue weight, lowering leptin level and hepatic steatosis.

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