A herbal premix containing Macrotyloma uniflorum, ginger and whey curtails obesity in high fat diet fed rats by a novel mechanism.

The present study designed and evaluated a polyherbal premix comprising Macrotyloma uniflorum, whey protein, Zingiber officinale and Mentha piperita. Animals were fed high fat diet (HFD) for 30 days and were daily administered the premix (1.5 g/kg) in milk (PM) and water (PW), aerobic exercise (AE), premix in milk and water along with AE (PMAE and PWAE), ferulic acid (100mg/kg) and the reference drug fluoxetine (6 mg/kg). All treatments showed significant reduction in food intake, weight gain, abdominal circumference and BMI compared to their initial values. A quicker peaking of the satiety marker cholecystokinin than HFD and control groups was brought about by all treatments, PMAE and PWAE exhibiting sustained satiety. The HFD-elevated blood glucose levels were significantly attenuated on the 30thday by all treatments when compared with their 15th day and basal values, PMAE exhibiting the best results. All treatments significantly attenuated the HFD-elevated serum insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP, TG, TC, VLDL and LDL levels and restored significantly the HFD-depleted HDL and adiponectin levels. HFD-elevated TBARS values were attenuated successfully, and the HFD-depleted GSH, SOD and CAT levels were restored significantly by all treatments. The histological findings corroborated the biochemical results. Novelty points • In conclusion, the polyherbal premix brought about appetite regulation and induction of satiety to control obesity in HFD-fed rats through homeostasis of energy metabolism. • The premix along with exercise is a complete way to combat obesity.