Effects of Azadirachta indica Aqueous Leaf Extract on Liver and Kidney in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Wistar Rats

Abstract

Obesity is one of the major health challenges in the globe. Azadirachta indica leaf has demonstrated various biological activities such as antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antimalarial activities e.t.c. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Azadirachta indica aqueous leaf extract on liver and kidney in high-fat diet-induced obesity in albino rats.Twenty-five male and female adult wistar rats were divided into five groups. Five animals in each group. Group A served as negative control group fed with normal diet for 12 weeks. Group B were administered orally, with high-fat diet and normal diet for 12 weeks. Groups C, D and E received high-fat diet + normal diet for 6 weeks and treated with 10mg/kg.bw of lipostatin, 200mg/kg.bw and 400mg/kg.bw of Azadirachta indica extract respectively for another 6 weeks. During the treatment, abdominal circumference, body weight and body mass index were measured weekly. After treatment, animals were euthanized and liver, kidney were harvested for laboratory analysis.The result showed the body weight, body mass index, abdominal circumference were significantly decreased (p< 0.05) in the treated groups compared to high-fat diet group, while the histological examination of liver, kidney of treated groups showed clearance of lipid deposition. In conclusion, these results confirmed the effect of Azadirachta indica extract in obesity as indicated by by improvement of some anthropometrical parameters and restoration of liver and kidney abnormalties.