Investigating Anti-Obesity Potential of Papaver Somniferum Seeds in Obese Rat Model

Summary

The study investigates the anti-obesity efficacy of Papaver somniferum seeds in obesity-induced Albino rats. Washed poppy seeds effectively reduced weight, lowered glucose levels, and improved lipid profiles without toxicity. In contrast, unwashed seeds altered blood parameters, suggesting potential toxicity and the need for further research.

Abstract

Obesity is a major global health issue, affecting nearly 30% of the population worldwide. Despite the prevalence of obesity, there is currently no data available on the anti-obesity and metabolic effects of Papaver somniferum. The objective of the study was to confirm the anti-obesity and metabolic effects of Papaver somniferum (poppy) seeds in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats, assessing their impact on weight reduction, lipid profile, and organ toxicity. The experiment was conducted in two phases: a 4 week poppy seed intervention and a 6 week obesity induction trial. Rats were separated into groups and given both washed or unwashed poppy seeds, HFD, and a prescription medication for weight loss. The findings demonstrated that washing poppy seeds significantly decreased weight gain and enhanced lipid profiles, particularly reducing triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Additionally, treated groups showed a decrease in glucose levels. However, higher doses of unwashed poppy seeds caused modest liver stress, indicated by raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and renal histopathology showed mild inflammation, but hematological parameters were constant. These results suggest that washed poppy seeds may have the potential to reduce obesity and enhance metabolic health without adverse harm, indicating the need for further research to explore their therapeutic potential.

Introduction

Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excessively high body fat percentage despite a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20^1,2. When the body's controlled system fails to maintain the proper balance between nutrients and energy in the body's regulatory system, it results in the accumulation of excess body fat deposited in the body³. The BMI is the primary diagnostic tool used to determine normal weight, overweight, and obesity status. It is commonly used in clinical research to identify individuals with excess weight or obesity. Research indicates that obesity is a disease i....

Protocol

All procedures were conducted after the ethical committee of the University of Lahore Pakistan approved them in the meeting held on 21-04-2021 with Registration No: REG. # EPZOOL02193026

1. Housing of animals

1. House 35 male Wistar albino rats (3 weeks old) individually in standard laboratory cages. Provide ad libitum access to rodent chow and water throughout the experiment.
2. Maintain the vivarium environment at a constant temperature of 22 ± 1 °C and a relative humidity of 50% ± 10%. Implement a 12 h:12 h light-dark cycle using artificial illumination.

Results

Rats with an initial body weight of 40-45 g (weaning stage) were selected for the 70 day experiment, which was divided into two phases. The first phase, lasting 6 weeks, involved inducing obesity in the experimental group by supplementing their standard chow with a high-fat diet (HFD; Figure 1). In the subsequent 4 week phase, the obese rats were administered Papaver somniferum. Body weight was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Repeated measures A.......

Discussion

The protocol has the following critical steps to be taken care of. The first critical step was to induce obesity in the animals by using High fat diet. The second step was to monitor animals which are on high fat diet that they do not develop diabetes or any other disease due to HFD.

The protocol also has the following limitations. Due to academic restrictions, the experimental time to study the exact effect of poppy seeds was only 10 weeks. A more detailed study of poppy seeds with different .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Blood glucose monitor GL-110	Certeza	GL-110	A portable device used to measure blood glucose levels.
Centrifuge	Eppendorf	22620005	A laboratory equipment that spins samples at high speeds to separate components based on density.
EDTA-coated vials	BD Vacutainer	367861	Tubes used for collecting blood samples, preventing clotting by binding calcium ions.
Eppendorf tubes	Eppendorf	0030 120.094	Small plastic tubes used for storing and handling small volumes of liquid.
Falcon tubes	Corning	352059	Conical tubes used for centrifugation and various laboratory applications.
Microscope	Olympus	CX23RF100	An optical instrument used for viewing small objects, typically magnified through lenses.
Neubauer hemocytometer	Hawksley	H.H1	A specialized slide used for counting cells under a microscope.
Orlistat120 mg	Windlas Biotech Ltd
Pipette tips	Eppendorf	0030 073.435	Disposable tips used with pipettes for transferring liquids accurately.
Serological pipettes	Falcon	357551	Graduated pipettes used for transferring liquids in larger volumes.
SPSS software version 16	IBM	N/A (software, not a physical product)	A statistical software package used for data analysis.
Standard laboratory cage (Super Mouse 750)	Lab Products, Inc.	10021	A cage designed to house laboratory mice, providing a controlled environment.