Journal of

Introduction: Obesity and its complications such as hypertension, fatty liver, type 2 diabetes and kidney failure, can be mentioned as the main life-threating elements. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of air parts extract of Echinophora platyloba.L (EP) on changes in body weight as well as liver and kidney function tests in hypercholesterolaemia obese rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided in to five groups (n =8) including a control group with normal control diet, control hyperlipidemia group with fatty food diet and hypertriglyceridemia treatment groups which recieved the minimum dose (100 mg/kg), average dose (200 mg/kg) maximum dose (300 mg/kg) of EP extract via a gavage. At the end of this period (42 days), to measure cholesterol, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, albumin, total protein, alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the blood samples were collected and the study data were analyzed.

Results: Cholesterol, ALT, AST and ALP were reported to significantly decrease (in the minimum and maximum dose groups) compared to the control group (P≤0.05). Albumin and total protein in the maximum dose extract group significantly increased compared to the control group (P≤0.05). Moreover, body weight in the group receiving the minimum dose of extract showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (P≤0.05).

Conclusion: EP extract, specifically in the minimal doses, in addition to protecting liver, could be recommended as a good candidate in regard with the treatment of blood lipids, and body extra weight.