Anti-obesity action of gingerol: effect on lipid profile, insulin, leptin, amylase and lipase in male obese rats induced by a high-fat diet

BACKGROUND: Obesity represents a rapidly growing threat to the health of populations and diet intervention has been proposed as one of the strategies for weight loss. Ginger and its constituents have been used for their anti-flatulent, expectorant and appetising properties and they are reported to possess gastro-protective and cholesterol-lowering properties. The present study investigated the effects of gingerol on the changes in body weight, serum glucose, insulin, insulin resistance and lipid profile in plasma and liver as well as on the activity of amylase, lipase and leptin in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. RESULTS: HFD-induced obese rats were treated orally with gingerol (25, 50 and 75 mg kg(-1)) once daily for 30 days. A lorcaserin-treated group(10 mg kg(-1)) was included for comparison. The levels of body weight, glucose, lipid profile and insulin, insulin resistance, leptin, amylase and lipase were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in HFD rats. Rats treated with gingerol and fed a HFD showed significantly (P < 0.05) decreased glucose level, body weight, leptin, insulin, amylase, lipase plasma and tissue lipids when compared to normal control. The effect at a dose of 75 mg kg-1 of gingerol was more pronounced than that of the dose 25 mg kg(-1) and 50 mg kg(-1). The lorcaserin-treated group also manifested similar effects to those of gingerol. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that ginger supplementation suppresses obesity induced by a high fat diet and it might be a promising adjuvant therapy for the treatment of obesity and its complications. (C) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry