Antiobesity effects of lycii fructus in high-fat diet/fructose-induced obese rats

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing at an enormous rate among all age groups which makes it one of the foremost health problems. Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the effect of the ethyl acetate extract from Lycii fructus (ETLF) against high-fat diet (HFD)/fructose-induced obesity in rats. Materials and Methods: Obesity was induced in rats by feeding them with HFD and 15% fructose for 8 weeks, while the animals in ETLF groups were administered with 100 and 400 mg/kg of ETLF once daily from the 5th to the 8th week. Results: ETLF displayed antiobesity by significantly reducing body weight gain, serum lipid levels as well as alleviating increased serum insulin and glucose levels. In addition, ETLF treatment when compared to the HFD/fructose fed group significantly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation by reducing malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 β) and IL-6 levels as well as enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Conclusion: Thus, these results portrayed that ETLF had protective effects against metabolic disorders induced by HFD/fructose through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic activities.