ABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was to explore on the possible protective effects of the saponins and alkaloid-rich fractions of Colocasia esculenta L. Schott leaves on high-fat diet-induced changes in rats. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats were treated orally with 10mg/kg b.wt of saponin-rich fraction [SPF], 10mg/kg bw of alkaloid-rich fraction [ALF] and 400mg/kg bw of Crude aqueous extract of C. esculenta [CEAE] for 28 days. The effects of the treatments on body weight, wet white adipose (WAT) tissue, liver marker enzymes and liver histomorphology were studied. High-fat diet induced body weight gain and increased the serum levels of liver enzymes, cholesterol and triglycerides in rats. Increased body weight changes were observed in HFD-control while the alkaloid and CEAE treatments significantly decreased the weight gain of treated rats. Oral treatment with CEAE and fractions significantly decreased all the biochemical parameters (p<0.05) except cholesterol levels. Microscopical examination of the WAT showed decreased adipocyte sizes upon treatments with CEAE and fractions while the liver histoarchitecture showed a better preservation upon treatments with SPF and CEAE. The outcomes from the present study suggest that C. esculenta leaves significantly reduced fat accumulation in adipose tissues and ameliorated HFD-induced liver damage. The alkaloids and saponins present in the plant product may be the phytoconstituents responsible for the weight attenuating and hepatoprotection activities respectively.