Abstract

Prevalence of obesity is on the increase globally with high fat diet (HFD) known to be the main contributing factor. This study was carried out to determine the actions of fermented Parkia biglobosa (Iru) and Sphenostyles stenocarpa (Otili) on the kidney of obese induced albino rats. The rats were grouped into a control group fed with normal rats chow and three different high fat diet groups (HFD¹, HFD², HFD³) mixed with different proportions of P. biglobosa and S. stenocarpa. After feeding ad-libitum for six weeks blood samples were collected to determine albumin, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG),  high density lipoprotein (HDL) serum low density lipoprotein, enzymes (ALT, ALP, and AST) and Kidney histopathology. Results showed that there was a significant reduced body weight (p<0.05) in the treated rats compared with the control animals. Furthermore, the plasma lipid profiles were also improved, with a decrease in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) while boosting the high density lipoprotein (HDL). Similarly, histological examination revealed normal kidney with no negative changes such as dilation in blood vessels, cell infiltration, tubular defects, etc associated with taking high fat diet. In conclusion, supplementing a combination of fermented P. biglobosa (iru) and S. stenocarpa (otili) into diets show promise as a natural and safe anti-obesity agent that can ameliorate renal biochemical and histopathological changes associated with obesity.

Key words: Parkia biglobosa, Sphenostyles stenocarpa, high fat diet, kidney, obesity.