ABSTRACT

There is prevalence of Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiometabolic symptoms including central obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation and dyslipideamia. The present study evaluated the possible attenuating role of low (500mg/kg/day) and high (1000mg/kg/day) doses of methanol extract of turmeric, a common food constituent, in high-sucrose diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Forty two male Wistar rats were assigned to seven Groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as normal control and was given standard feed and distilled water only, Group 2 received standard feed and 500mg/kg/day of  turmeric extract, Group 3 received standard feed and 1000 mg/kg/day of turmeric extract, Group 4 served as high sucrose diet (HSD) control and received distilled water and a high sucrose diet containing 390g of powdered diet (standard diet), 200g of sweetened condensed milk, 140g of sucrose (table sugar), and 270mL of water per kilogram of diet, Group 5 received HSD and 500 mg/kg/day of turmeric extract, Group 6 received HSD and 1000 mg/kg/day of turmeric extract while Group 7 received HSD and 2mg/kg/day of the standard drug for 28days. The HSD induced body weight gain and significantly increased blood glucose levels in Group 4. However, body weights and blood glucose were significantly reduced in treated Groups compared to Group 4. There was also a significant (P˂0.05) increase in SOD, GSH and catalase in the groups treated compared to Group 4. Furthermore the results showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum lipid profiles concentrations (TG, TC, LDL and VLDL) in all treated Groups which increased significantly relative to the HSD control Group, while HDL was significantly  increased in all treated groups compared to Group 4. It was also observed from the result that the serum insulin levels were significantly increased in all treated groups compared to Group 4. Thus at the tested doses, turmeric attenuated the studied indicators of metabolic syndrome suggesting that its use could be beneficial in the management of obesity and related diseases associated with metabolic syndrome.