Effect of Hydromethanolic Extract of Phoenix Dactylifera on Lipid Profile, Oxidative Markers and Liver Enzymes in Obese Male Wistar Rats

Obesity is a complex and chronic health complication. It is the accumulation of excessive fat with a BMI 30 kg/m² and above. Phoenix dactylifera is a fruit with a mixture of sugary and honey taste. It is rich in carbohydrate, dietary fibres, healthy fats and antioxidant properties such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. This study aims at investigation the effects of hydromethanolic extract of Phoenix dactylifera on lipid profile, oxidative markers and liver enzymes in obese Wistar rats. The study used thirty rats (30) rats and were grouped into five groups with five (5) rats in each group. The animals were acclimatized for one week. High fat diet was used to induce Obesity in group 4, 5, and 6 for thirty (30) days. Group 1 was the control group and was fed with water and rat chow, group 2 was given 500mg/kg of Phoenix dactylifera extract in 0.2ml of the extract, group 3 was administered with 1000mg/kg of the extract in 0.4ml of the extract, group 4 was fed with high fat diet and no extract, group 5 was fed with high fat diet and 500mg/kg of the extract in 0.2ml of the extract and  group 6 was fed with high fat diet and 1000mg/kg of the extract in 0.4ml of the extract for twenty one (21) days. Blood sample of each of the rats were taken to the laboratory for  analysis and results showed a significant (P < 0.05) difference in oxidative markers (Malondialdehyde, Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase), liver enzymes (Aspartate aminotransferase and Alkaline Phosphatase) and no significant difference in the lipid profile in animals treated with Phoenix dactylifera when compared to the groups that were not treated with Phoenix dactylifera. Phoenix dactylifera could serve as an alternative natural approach in the therapeutic treatment of Obesity.