Preventative effects of urtica dioica seed extracts on formation obesity by feeding with high fat diet in rats: an investigation by histopathological and biochemical

With this presented study, the investigation of histopathological and biochemical effects of nettle seed (Urtica Dioica; UD) extract on obesity formation in rat fed with high fat diet (HFD) was aimed. For this purpose, 32 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups each consisting of 8. The control group (Control) was fed with standard rat pellet feed. HFD group was fed with a high fat lumpy feed prepared with the addition of butter at a rate of 300 g / kg. HFD + UD group was fed with a high fat diet pellet feed prepared by adding butter at 300g / kg level and fed with UD extract (300 mg / kg, orally). UD group was fed with UD extract (300 mg / kg, oral) in addition to the standard pellet feed. At the end of the 75-days' trial period, rats were necropsied and tissue and blood samples were taken. The taken tissue samples were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H & E) and histopathological examination was performed. AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels of taken blood samples were studied. Histopathologically; degeneration and necrosis in hepatocytes, and deterioration in remark cord structures were found out in liver tissues of HFD group rats. It was also revealed that these findings were partially decreased in HFD + UD group rats. It was found out that ALT, ALP, triglyceride and LDL levels were significantly higher than the control group in the HFD group. In comparison with HFD group, it was revealed that ALT, ALP, triglyceride and LDL levels decreased significantly in the HFD + UD group. Decreasing HDL levels in the HFD group were found out to increase in the HFD + UD group. The increased cholesterol level in HFD group compared to control group was determined to increase higher in HFD + UD group. Nutrition with HFD provided weight gain, while weight gain by the application of UD extract partially decreased. As a result, as it was determined that UD extractive application reduces the damage in the liver, causes a decrease in serum lipids and prevents weight gain partially; however, it could not be concluded that UD extract provided complete protection against negative effects of HFD as it was determined to cause an increase in cholesterol level.