Constance R. Sewani-Rusike
Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
Title: Wild leafy vegetable Mormodica foetida, improves metabolic syndrome markers and sperm parameters in diet induced obese male rats
Biography
Biography: Constance R. Sewani-Rusike
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is a growing problem worldwide and in South Africa. It encompasses obesity and its associated complications including dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance which predisposes to the development of type 2 diabetes. Food plants are being investigated as nutreucicals to combat obesity and its complications. Mormodica foetida is commonly used in the Eastern Cape of South Africa as a vegetable and condiment in food preparations. Additionally, it is used medicinally for the treatment of hypertension. In the present study, the effects of a hydroethanolic extract of M. foetida on metabolic syndrome were investigated in a high-energy diet-fed (HED) rat model at a dose 150 mg/kg body weight. After 12 weeks on HED, rats were treated daily with extract for five weeks. Untreated rats showed fat accumulation, glucose intolerance, increased blood pressure, increaed LDL, reduced sperm motility with no change in sperm count. Treatment with M. foetida improved all parameters with an increase in sperm count. However, no significant change in serum HDL cholesterol was observed in both untreated and treated rats. These results show potential for M. foetida in the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.