Consumption of Spinacia Oleracea (spinach) and aerobic exercise controls obesity in rats by an inhibitory action on pancreatic lipase

Abstract

Context: Spinaciaoleracea (spinach) is abundant in antioxidant phytoconstituents, termed as the natural antioxidant mixture (NAO).

Objective: This study evaluates the anti-hyperlipidemicand anti-obesity effects of an antioxidant-rich extract of Spinaciaoleracea (NAOE) and aerobic exercise (AE) in rats fed with high fat diet (HFD).

Methods: Rats received NAOE (200 and 400 mg/kg), the standard drug orlistat (10 mg/kg), AE and NAOEAE (NAOE 400 mg/kg + AE) daily with HFD for 21 d.

Results: Orlistat, NAOE and NAOEAE treatments to HFD-fed rats significantly reduced the HFD-elevated food intake, weight gain, pancreatic lipase activity and lipid peroxidation, and successfully restored the HFD-skewed lipid profile and antioxidant levels.

Conclusions: It may be concluded that NAOE exhibited a promising anti-hyperlipidemic effect by its inhibitory action on pancreatic lipase. The combination treatment NAOEAE produced the best results indicating the essential role of exercise along with consumption of antioxidant-rich foods in maintaining a normal lipid profile and controlling obesity.

Keywords:

• Spinaciaoleracea extract
• aerobic exercise
• high fat diet
• lipid profile
• pancreatic lipase

Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., India for providing animals for this study. Thanks are also due to Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Mumbai, India for providing us a sample of orlistat.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interests was reported by the authors.