AN ETHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM LICORICE (GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA) EXHIBITS ANTI-OBESITY EFFECTS BY DECREASING DIETARY FAT ABSORPTION IN A HIGH FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY RAT MODEL

The present study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of the freeze dried powder of ethanolic extract of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) (LP) in a rat model of high-fat diet induced obesity and hyperlipidemia. Male wistar rats were fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity and hyperlipidemia. High fat diet induced obese rats exhibited increases in body weight gain, adipose tissue mass and levels of serum glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol compared to rats fed a normal chow diet. However, administration of LP (100-400 mg/kg, o.d., p.o) along with high-fat diet for 8 weeks significantly reduced high fat diet-induced increases in body weight gain and adipose tissue mass in a dose dependant manner. Moreover, LP attenuated high fat diet induced increased levels of serum glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol. The antiobesity effects of LP were comparable to orlistat, a well reported pancreatic lipase inhibitor. The antiobesity activity of LP appears to be mediated by decreasing dietary fat absorption from the intestine as LP dose dependently attenuated the raising of the serum triglycerides level after oral lipid load test and enhanced excretion of fecal fat content.24 July, 2011