Hypolipidemic and weight reducing activity of the ethanolic extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp in cafeteria diet- and sulpiride-induced obese rats

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica Linn. (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) on obesity in rats using cafeteria diet-induced obesity and antipsychotic drug (sulpiride)-induced obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cafeteria dietwas administered for 40 successive days to male Wistar rats and sulpiride (20 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered for 28 successive days to female Wistar rats. In separate groups of animals, the ethanolic extract (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) of Tamarindus indica fruit was administered along with cafeteria diet for 40 successive days to Wistar male rats and along with sulpiride for 28 successive days to Wistar female rats. RESULTS: Cafeteria diet alone significantly increased body weight, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels and decreased HDL cholesterol in male rats as compared to control. Sulpiride per se significantly increased the levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and there was no significant effect on HDL-cholesterol in female rats as compared to control. Ethanolic extract showed a significant decrease in body weight, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol in cafeteria diet- and sulpiride-induced obese rats as compared to their respective control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the ethanolic extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp showed a significant weight-reducing and hypolipidemic activity in cafeteria diet- and sulpiride-induced obese rats.