Aqueous and methanol extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaves exert their anti-obesity effects through the modulation of appetite-regulatory hormones

Figures & data

Table 1. Basal and HFDs composition.

Component	High fat diet (g/kg)	Basal diet (g/kg)
Maize	389	667
Groundnut cake	134	89
Egg yolk powder	58	0
Crayfish	22	29
Vitamin/mineral	20	11
Bone meal	20	11
Non-nutritive cellulose	4	2
Palm kernel oil	70	0
Palm oil	70	0
Corn starch	215	192

Table 2. Protocol for grouping the animals and treatments administered.

Group	Normal control	AEVA 100	AEVA 500	MEVA 50	MEVA 200	Negative control	Positive control
Diet	Basal diet	HFD	HFD	HFD	HFD	HFD	HFD
Treatment	Distilled water	100 mg/kg bw AEVA	500 mg/kg bw AEVA	50 mg/kg bw MEVA	200 mg/kg bw MEVA	Distilled water	20 mg/kg bw Orlistat

Treatments were given per os. Orlistat was purchased from a reputable commercial pharmaceutical vendor. AEVA, MEVA and orlistat were each dissolved in 2% DMSO. AEVA, MEVA and HFD represent Aqueous extract of V. amygdalina, Methanol extract of V. amygdalina and HFD, respectively.

Figure 1. Serum concentrations of insulin in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [** and *** indicate significant differences at p < .01 and <.001, respectively; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for the test groups are statistically similar (p > .05) to the NoC group and the PC group (except for MEVA 200 versus PC)].

Figure 2. Serum concentrations of leptin in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [*** indicates significant difference at p < .001; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for the test groups were all statistically similar (p > .05) to the NoC group but significantly (p < .01) higher than the PC group].

Figure 3. Serum concentrations of ghrelin in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [*** indicates significant difference at p < .001; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for AEVA 500 and MEVA 200 were significantly (p < .05) higher than the NoC group while the other two were similar. AEVA 100 and MEVA 50 were significantly (p < .01) lower than the PC group].

Figure 4. Serum concentrations of adiponectin in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [* indicates significant difference at p < .05; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for the test groups were all significantly (p < .05) lower than the NoC group. AEVA 500 and MEVA 50 were significantly (p < .05) higher than the PC group (while the other two were similar)].

Figure 5. Serum lipoprotein lipase activity in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [* indicates significant difference at p < .05; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for the test groups (except MEVA 50) were all statistically similar (p > .05) to both the NoC and the PC groups].

Figure 6. Serum concentrations of α-amylase in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [*** indicates significant difference at p < .001; comparisons are made to the NeC group. Data for the test groups were statistically similar (p > .05) to both the NoC and the PC groups].

Figure 7. Serum concentrations of intestinal amylase in HFD fed rats treated with different concentrations of AEVA and MEVA. [Data for the test groups were statistically similar (p > .05) to the NeC and PC groups; but significantly (p < .01) lower than the NoC group].