Research Article

Effect of Schanginia aegyptiaca Plant Extract from the Saline Environment of Babylon on Lipid Profile and Obesity Indicators in Laboratory Rats on a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Background: Obesity and related metabolic complications such as dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation are a world-wide health problem. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Schanginia aegyptiaca extract on obesity, hyperlipidaemia, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in obese rats fed with a high fat diet. Methodology: Male Wistar rats were randomized into HFD, positive control (Orlistat) and two high and low doses of S. aegyptiaca extract groups. The treatment consisted of an HFD for 12 weeks to induce obesity followed by 6 weeks of treatment. Body weight, food intake, BMI, Lee Index, adipose tissue weights, other biochemical and immunological indicators. Results: The extract of S. aegyptiaca significantly inhibited body weight gain, BMI and Lee Index and also reduced epicardial fat pad, perirenal fat pad and mesenteric fat pad weights showing its potent anti-obesity effects. It was highly effective in the correction of dyslipidemia, decreasing levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C and increasing HDL-C. In addition, the extract effectively improved insulin resistance by decreasing fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR. Oxidative stress was reduced by the reduction in the level of MDA and increase in SOD and CAT. Furthermore, inflammatory responses were inhibited, where particularly TNF-α and CRP were reduced significantly. Conclusion: The extract of Schanginia aegyptiaca has anti-obesity, hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent HFD-induced obesity and metabolic complications. These results may be beneficial for its utilization as a natural therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome and its possible clinical applications.

Authors affiliation:

Marwa Najim Obied Al-Shujairi (ORCID): Department of Medical Laboratory Technics, Al-Mussaib Technical Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Babylon, Iraq.

How To Cite: M.N.O. Al-Shujairi. Effect of Schanginia aegyptiaca Plant Extract from the Saline Environment of Babylon on Lipid Profile and Obesity Indicators in Laboratory Rats on a High-Fat Diet. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemical Engineering, 6(2):56–66, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58612/jafce627