Obesity and
hyperlipidemia are metabolic dysregulations that arise from poor lifestyle and unhealthy dietary intakes. These co-morbidity conditions are risk factors for
vascular diseases. Piper sarmentosum (PS) is a nutritious plant that has been shown to pose various
phytochemicals and pharmacological actions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PS on
obesity and
hyperlipidemia in an animal model. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five experimental groups. The groups were as follows: UG-Untreated group; CTRL-control; FDW-
olive oil + 20%
fructose; FDW-PS-PS (125 mg/kg) + 20%
fructose; FDW-NGN-
naringin (100 mg/kg) + 20%
fructose.
Fructose drinking water was administered daily for 12 weeks ad libitum to induce metabolic abnormality. Treatment was administered at week 8 for four weeks via oral gavage. The rats were sacrificed with
anesthesia at the end of the experimental period. Blood, liver, and visceral fat were collected for further analysis. The consumption of 20%
fructose water by Wistar rats for eight weeks displayed a tremendous increment in
body weight, fat mass, percentage fat,
LDL, TG, TC,
HMG-CoA reductase,
leptin, and reduced the levels of HDL and
adiponectin as well as adipocyte
hypertrophy. Following the treatment period, FDW-PS and FDW-NGN showed a significant reduction in
body weight, fat mass, percentage fat,
LDL, TG, TC,
HMG-CoA reductase, and
leptin with an increment in the levels of HDL and
adiponectin compared to the FDW group. FDW-PS and FDW-NGN also showed adipocyte hypotrophy compared to the FDW group. In conclusion,
oral administration of 125 mg/kg PS methanolic extract to
fructose-induced obese rats led to significant amelioration of
obesity and
hyperlipidemia through suppressing the adipocytes and inhibiting
HMG-CoA reductase. PS has the potential to be used as an alternative or adjunct
therapy for
obesity and
hyperlipidemia.