NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT OF SOME COUNTERFEIT ANTI-OBESITY DRUGS

Objective: To evaluate the effect of some counterfeit anti-obesity drugs that are not licensed by the Ministry of Health. Materials and Methods: 100 male rats were divided into 10 groups. The first group received a normal diet for two months. The second group received a high-fat diet (HFD) for two months; the third group received HFD for one month then returned to a normal diet. The remaining seven groups received HFD for one month then treated with Orlistat, Turbo slim (dose 1), Turbo slim (dose 2), African mango (dose1), African mango (dose 2), Slim factor (dose 1), and Slim factor (dose 2) respectively for an additional one month. Bodyweight, glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, MCP-1, reduced glutathione, MDA, lipid profile, kidney, and liver functions were measured. Adipose tissue index, atherosclerosis index, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were calculated. Results: Feeding with HFD induced a significant increase in body weight as well as insulin resistance, serum lipids, serum leptin, plasma MCP-1, and tissue MDA and a significant decrease in serum adiponectin and tissue GSH as compared to the normal group. These measurements were significantly reversed after cessation of HFD. Treatment with orlistat significantly reduced serum TAG, insulin resistance, serum leptin, and plasma MCP-1 and significantly increased serum adiponectin and tissue GSH as compared to group ceased HFD. There is no notable changes observed in groups treated with the other three drugs as compared to group ceased HFD. Conclusion: Our data show that the three studied counterfeit drugs had a negligible anti-obesity effect in comparison with registered Orlistat.