TITLE:
Anti-Obesity Effect of Boscia senegalensis in Rabbits
AUTHORS:
Delvina Okondza Nohya, Imar Djibrine Soudy, Mahamat Assafi Ahmat, Al-Habo Sossal, Mandiguel Djimalbaye, Arsène Lenga
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Boscia senegalensis, Toxicity
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Obesity
is defined as excessive and abnormal accumulation of fatty tissue with
significant somatic, psychological and social consequences on quality of life.
Obesity has long been considered a simple aesthetic problem linked to excessive
gluttony. It is however recognized today as a real pathology, so much so that
the WHO has declared it as “the first non-infectious epidemic in history and a major problem of the
century”. In addition, many studies have been carried out aimed at the
production of less fatty foods and, scientifically, at the development of
anti-obesity drugs. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the anti-obesity
effect of the extract of Boscia
senegalensis (Capparaceae) used in Chad to fight against type II diabetes
and metabolic syndrome. Methodology: A bromatological study of Boscia senegalensis extract was carried
out at the Food Quality Control Centre (CECOQDA) in Ndjamena (Chad), followed
by an in vivo study of rabbits
carried out at the IRED Biotechnopôle laboratory (Chad). Results: The
results obtained from the 100 g bromatological study of the dry extract of Boscia senegalensis are as follows: protein content (20.24% ± 0.007%), fat content (5.92% ± 0.21%), carbohydrate
content (35.16% ± 1.05%), fibre content (2.11% ± 0.26%), moisture content (5.7% ± 0.14%) and ash content (2.90% ± 0.03%). No aflatoxin was detected in the dry extract of Boscia senegalensis. A significant
decrease (p = 0.04) in body weight was observed in rabbits treated with Boscia senegalensis extract compared to
controls. In addition, histological sections of the various organs (liver,
spleen, kidneys) of treated rabbits showed no lesions following the
incorporation of the extract of Boscia
senegalensis. Conclusion: This study showed the anti-obesity effect
of Boscia senegalensis. It also made
it possible to verify the harmlessness of the product with regard to the
results on chronic toxicity.