Beneficial lipid-lowering effects of pink guava puree in high fat diet induced-obese rats

A study was carried out to determine the anti-obesity effects of pink guava (Psidium guajava) puree in high fat diet (HFD) induced-obese rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: control negative (CN), fed normal rat pellet; control positive (CP), low, medium and high dosage group (LDG, MDG, HDG) were fed HFD, respectively. CN and CP groups were given distilled water; meanwhile treated groups were given the aqueous puree dissolved in distilled water administered orally for six weeks. The results obtained showed that pink guava puree significantly decreased the body weight and systolic blood pressure of HFD induced-obese rats as compared to control. Blood glucose values for treated groups (4.3-4.9 mmol/L) were significantly lower as compared to CN and CP (5.7 and 5.8 mmol/L) respectively. HDG showed a significant reduction in 34.47% total cholesterol (TC) levels followed by MDG (23.30%) and LDG (22.33%). Triglycerides (TG) levels for all treated groups especially HDG (43.59%) showed significant difference as compared to control. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels showed an increase in the treated group as compared to control. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly decreased in HDG (69.70%), MDG (39.40%) and LDG (37.12%) as compared to control. Kidney function tests showed significant changes in urea concentrations in treated groups as compared to control. Liver function tests showed significant differences in globulin, A:G ratio, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and CK-Nac in treated groups as compared to control. Specific enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly higher in LDG (2787.50±266.36 U/L), MDG (2819.50±262.04 U/L) and HDG (2897.33±674.97 U/L) respectively, as compared to CN (2184.50±816.59 U/L) and CP (2610.17±61.63 U/L). Significant differences were also seen in superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activities in treated groups as compared to control. In conclusion, this study found that pink guava puree had anti-obesity properties and high enzyme activities.