Therapeutic Potential of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) Seeds Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity: Focusing on Oxidative Stress, Metabolic Dysfunctions, Neurological Complications and Liver Health

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلفون

1 كليه الاقتصاد المنزلي جامعة حلوان

2 كلية التربية النوعية جامعة طنطا

المستخلص

Obesity, a major global health concern characterized by excessive body fat, is treatable; however, current pharmacological options are costly and often associated with side effects that reduce patient adherence. This has prompted interest in alternative therapies, especially those from natural sources, due to their affordability and fewer adverse effects. This study examines the effects of methanol extract from wild milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum L., SME) on obesity and related complications in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rat model. Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n=6). Group 1 served as the normal control (standard diet), Group 2 as the model control (obese rats without treatment), and Groups 3–6 were treatment groups receiving SME orally at doses of 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg/day for eight weeks. Obesity was induced using an HFD. After treatment, SME significantly (p≤0.05) reduced body weight, blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-c, while increasing hepatic glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px, SOD, CAT), leptin, HDL-c, paraoxonase, and arylesterase activities compared to the model control. SME also decreased hepatic oxidative stress markers, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Correlation analyses revealed improvements in insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress, suggesting that SME mediates its anti-obesity effects through multiple biochemical pathways. These findings indicate that SME has significant potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing obesity and related metabolic disorders, though further research is necessary to confirm its long-term efficacy and clinical applicability.

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