Anti-obesity effect of the flavonoids isolated from Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don.

Allium cepa L.var. agrogatum Don. is one kind of Liliaceae plant and its extracts have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effect. In this study we investigated effect of the flavonoid constituents from Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don. on body fat and blood lipid profile of high fat diet-induced obese Wistar rats. The animals were divided to 4 groups (12/group) and fed control diet, high fat diet, high fat diet plus extract A, or high fat diet plus extract B for 15 d. Body weight, body fat, whole blood viscosity of low shear, medium shear and high shear, plasma viscosity, contents of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein were determined. Results showed that the flavonoid constituents (both extract A and B) significantly visceral fat and extract B also significantly reduced decreased medium shear viscosity and low shear viscosity. No significant effect on blood lipid was observed. We conclude that the flavonoid constituents from Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don. may have an anti-obesity potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]