Grapes seeds are rich source of polyphenolic compounds with potent antioxidant and have been reported beneficial for several health ailments. In the present study, the anti-obesity effect of grape seed extract in an animal model of high fat diet-induced obesity was investigated. Analysis of physiological parameters of high fat diet fed rats when treated with ethanol and water grape seeds extracts revealed significant (P<0.01) decrease in weight gain and food intake when compared with high fat diet rats. The results showed that the organ weight of the liver and adipose tissue weights of mesenteric, perirenal and uterine tissues in the HFD + GSAE and HFD + GSWE groups were significantly decreased as compared with the HFD group. Serum TG, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, glucose levels in the HFD + GSAE and HFD + GSWE groups were significantly decreased as compared with the HFD group. Histological study showed that the lipid droplets of heart and liver of rats with HFD + GSAE and HFD + GSWE diets were significantly smaller than those with HFD diets. These results demonstrate that intake of GSE can be beneficial for the suppression of HFD-induced obesity.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
