Rambutan peel extract increases leptin efficiency and decreases lipid peroxidation in a rat model of obesity Lestari Sri Rahayu1,*, Lestari Umie1, Atto'illah M. Fitri2 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, State Universitas Negeri Malang (State University of Malang), Jalan Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65145, East Java, Indonesia 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Brawijaya University, Jalan Veteran, Malang, 65145, East Java, Indonesia *Corresponding author e-mail: srirahayulestari@um.ac.id
Online published on 9 April, 2018. Abstract Obesity induces oxidative stress and causes disturbances in the production of adipokines. Leptin is a hormone synthesized by adipose cells. Rambutan Peel Extract (RPE) contains polyphenols, which can be used as anti-obesity agents. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of RPE on leptin levels in visceral fat and liver lipid peroxidation in an obese rat model. Thirty male rats aged 12 weeks were divided into groups: normal rat, obese rat model without treatment, obese rat model with 15 mg/kg RPE (O-RPE15), 30 mg/kg (O-RPE30) and 60 mg/kg (O-RPE60). Leptin efficiency, including leptin levels in visceral fat, was detected indirectly by ELISA and food efficiency was determined. Lipid peroxidation parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, were determined by the thiobarbituric acid method (TBA), and PPARγ expression in the liver was detected by immunohistochemistry. Visceral fat leptin levels decreased in the O-RPE30 and O-RPE15 groups. Food consumption and calorie intake were decreased in the O-RPE60, O-RPE15 and O-RPE30 groups, respectively. The greatest food efficiency was observed in the O-RPE15 and O-RPE30 treatments. Liver MDA levels decreased in O-RPE15 and O-RPE30 treatments. There were no differences in PPARγ expression in all the treatments. Top Keywords Leptin efficiency, lipid peroxidation, obesity, rambutan peel extract. Top |