Effect of Plantago rugelii (Plantaginaceae) Methanol Whole Plant Extract on Body Weight and Blood Lipid Profiles on High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Wistar Rats: Implication for Public Health

Volume 15, Issue 59, 2026

Research Article
Effect of Plantago rugelii (Plantaginaceae) Methanol Whole Plant Extract on Body Weight and Blood Lipid Profiles on High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Wistar Rats: Implication for Public Health
Ogbiko Cyril, Ikem Chinedu Joseph and Guobadia Ofenereva Edith
Keywords: Lipids, Obesity, Orlistat, Plantago rugelii
DOI:10.37273/chesci.cs09057091

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance. It is a public health challenge affecting all age groups including children and adolescents. The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of the whole plant extract of Plantago rugelii and a conventional drug Orlistat on the lipid profile in obese albino rats viz-a-viz its effect on the body mass. Thirty adult Wistar albino rats were sorted into six groups comprising of five animals per group. The first three (treatment groups) were administered 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of the extract in addition to the administration of 10, 25 and 50% high-fat diet. Groups IV and V (positive control groups) received 50% high-fat diet and normal standard diet respectively in addition to receiving 30 mg/kg body weight of orlistat. Group VI (negative control group) received normal standard diet and 1 mL 0.9 mL normal saline. All animals were fed with for 14 days’ duration. The changes in the body weight was determined for all groups and blood were collected, centrifuged with the serum used for the lipid profile. There was no statistical significant difference in the total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density cholesterol levels among the extract treatment groups and the standard group but there were statistically significant differences between the extract treatment and standard groups when compared with that of the negative control group. The extract and the standard drug however brings about an increase in the good (HDL – C) and decrease (LDL – C) levels respectively when compared to the negative control group. Conclusively, Plantago rugelii whole plant extract had an anti-lipidemic activity with respect to improving HDL – Cholesterol status hence recommended for development as an anti-lipidemic agent.

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