Olfat R Khater’s scientific contributions

The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of psyllium husk, green coffee, orange peel and their mixture on obesity Induced by high fat diet (HFD) in rats. Rats (n= 72 rats), were divided into two main groups, the first group, normal control, (Group 1, 6 rats) still fed on basal diet (BD) and the other main group (66 rats) was used for obesity induction by feed with HFD for four weeks then classified into eleven equal sub groups as follow:. Group 2 (G2), model control, fed on BD only as a positive control (rats with obesity), groups (3-10), fed on BD containing 2.5 and 5.0% of psyllium husk, green coffee, orange peel and their mixture, and groups (11-12) fed on BD containing 1 and 2% of CHROMAX (one of the dietary supplements commonly used in obesity management) for comparative study. Rats feeding on HFD (model control) for 4 weeks leads to increase the BWG, FI and FER than the normal group by the rate of 161.7, 47.6 and79.1%, respectively. Biochemical analysis data indicated that obesity induced a significant (p≤0.05) decrease the hemoglobin (-34.4%) and RBCs (-46.7%), serum albumin (-63.9%) and globulin (-51.7%), increased liver functions enzymes activities (AST, 147%, ALT 163.2% and ALP, 107.6%), blood glucose (151.5%), serum lipid profile (TGs, 83.3%, TC, 75.9% and LDL-c , 200.1%) compared to normal controls. Intervention with selected plant parts in feeding rats protocol for 4 weeks led to significantly (p≤0.05) improvement on the all biological and biochemical parameters of the obese rats by different rates. The best results for all previous measures were recorded in the groups of rats that were fed on a mixture of selected plant parts, followed by the groups that were fed on green coffee, orange peel and psyllium husks, respectively. Also, the feeding intervention with a mixture of plant parts was more effective in obesity treatment when compared to CHROMAX. In conclusion, the results of present study provide a basis for the use of selected plant parts for the prevention or early treatment of obesity and its related complications, but completing this important topic requires the necessity of conducting more studies and research in the future.