Influence of Sage (Salvia Officinalis L.) and Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea L.) on Weight Reduction and Some Biochemical Parameters in Rats Suffering from Obesity

The present work was conducted to study the effect of Sage (Salvia Officinalis L.) and Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea L.) on the nutritional parameters (including feed intake and body weight gain %), lipid parameters, glucose, liver enzymes and some hormones (total thyroxin 14 , triiodothyronine T3 and leptin ) of rats suffering from obesity. The rats (n=48) were divided into two main groups, the first main group (n=6 rats) fed on basal diet as a control negative group. The second main group(n=42 rats) received high fat diet for 6 weeks to induce obesity in rats. After these periods, the mean value of body weight gain% was estimated in the two main groups, also blood samples were collected from all rats to estimate the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, then the high fat diet group was divided into (7) subgroups (n=6 rats for each ), the first subgroup fed on high fat diet as a control positive group. Subgroups (2 and 3) were fed on high fat diet supplemented with 2% and 4% Sage, respectively. Subgroups (4 and 5) received high fat diet supplemented with 2% and 4% Purslane , respectively. Subgroup (6) fed on high fat diet supplemented with 2% mix (1% sage, 1% Purslane ). The last subgroup was received high fat diet supplemented with 4% mix (2% sage, 2% Purslane ). The results cleared that, addition of Sage (Salvia officinalis) or Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) or mix of them at any tested levels (2% or 4%) to the high fat diet decreased the body weights, in addition to significant decrease in the mean values of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), glucose, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in all treated groups, compared to the positive control groups, while high-density lipoprotein (HDLc) increased, also the mean values of T3, 14 and leptin hormones were improved. It was concluded that, the mix of sage and purslane at high level (4%) showed the best effect on body weights, lipid profile, liver functions, glucose level and hormones of obese rats fed on high fat diet.