الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Obesity is one of the most common health problems facing humans. The prevalence of this disease has increased significantly in recent years and has become common in many different countries around the world due to increased pollution and genetic factors. Excess weight, according to the World Health Organization, is defined as an excessive or abnormal accumulation of fat in the body. It results in an imbalance between energy intake and consumption. Among the most important causes of obesity are genetic, physiological and environmental factors, as well as imbalances in diet and physical activity. Obesity is also linked to many other diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Obesity is also associated with increased levels of oxidative stress as a result of the accumulation of fat in the liver and the inability of antioxidant enzymes to remove free radicals. As a result of obesity, blood pressure rises, which leads to many cardiovascular disorders and imbalances in blood lipids. Obesity is associated with elevated total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and many of the metabolic disorders associated with obesity such as insulin resistance and cancers. In order to reduce the spread of obesity, many drugs have been used for treatment, which work to prevent the absorption of fats and control the metabolic processes of carbohydrates and fats. Obesity can be treated by adjusting the amount of food (diet), exercise, and chemical drugs. These drugs have harmful effects on the liver, kidneys, and vital organs in the body, so scientists tended to search for alternative drugs to treat obesity that have no side effects and are highly effective. In this study, Orlistat and Konjac, which are widely available in the Egyptian and Arab markets, were evaluated as drugs for the treatment of obesity, and the efficacy of Artemisia annua extract (AAE) and Pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in treating obesity was evaluated using an experimental rat model. Orlistat and Konjac were purchased from Al-Ayari Pharmacy in Tanta. Artemisia and pomegranate plants were purchased from the local market in Tanta. The materials concerned with the study were dried, ground and extracts were made as follows: - Adding 50 grams each of ground Artemisia and pomegranate peels to 500 ml of ethanol at a concentration of 70% and left for 3 days, then the extracted materials were filtered and left to dry to obtain alcoholic extracts. The phytochemical composition of the AAE and PPE was estimated from the total content of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Also, minerals were estimated, and gas chromatograph (mass spectrometry) GC-MS was used to identify the different compounds present in AAE and PPE. Seventy-six male white rats were purchased from Helwan University, whose weight ranged to 140 ± 5 g. They were transferred to the animal house of the Faculty of Science, Tanta University, and appropriate measures were taken to care for the animals. To determine the dose capable of killing 50% of rats (LD50), 40 rats were divided into ten groups (n = 4), and these groups were injected with a dose of different concentrations of AAE and PPE (1-2-3-4-5 g/ kg b.wt). Rats were monitored for 24 hours to assess the acute toxicity of these extracts, and an LD50 was calculated for each of them. To make a model of obesity in rats, normal basal diet (NBD) consisting of 21% protein, 68.2% carbohydrates, 3.2% fat, and 3.44% fiber was used to feed the negative control group, and another high-fat diet (HFD) was used that contained 10% protein and 54.4% carbohydrates. 30% fat, 3.5% mineral mixture and 1% vitamin mixture, to feed the remaining rats for 12 weeks. To determine the efficacy of Orlistat, Konjac, AAE and PPE on obese rats, the obese rats were divided into five groups, each group containing 6 rats as follows: The first group: was left as a positive control group (obese). The second group: Rats were administered with Orlistat (30 mg). /kg). The third group: Rats were administered with Konjac (50 mg / kg). The fourth group: Rats were administered with AAE (100 mg/kg). Fifth group: Rats were administered with PPE (100 mg/kg). All groups were treated daily for 2 months. The rats were weighed at the beginning of the experiment to know the initial weight, and the weights were measured weekly until the end of the experiment. Then, the rats were dissected after 20 weeks, and blood samples were taken to make hematological and biochemical measurements, and samples were taken from each of the liver and kidneys to make histological sections. The complete blood picture was measured, the activity of liver enzymes, the total content of protein, bilirubin, albumin, and globulin, and the determination of amylase activity, glucose content, and kidney function (urea and creatinine) in the blood. The lipid profile was measured including cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, vLDL-C and HDL-C. Then a part of the liver tissue was kept at -80°C to measure some antioxidant enzymes such as catalase enzyme (CAT) and (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Tissue samples were taken from the liver and kidneys and preserved in 10% formalin, for microscopic examination to study histological changes. The results showed that the total protein content of AAE was 36.9 ± 240, while that of PPE was 90 ± 3.75 mg/g DW, and the total carbohydrate content of AAE was191.0 ± 4.59 and PPE 560.2 ± 7.1 mg/g DW, while the fat content of AAE was 57.53 ± 3.45. and PPE 97.27 ± 3.98mg/g DW. The results showed that copper is the most concentrated mineral in AAE, followed by calcium, while in PPE, potassium was the most concentrated mineral, followed by calcium. The results showed that the total phenols content of AAE and PPE were 16.63 ± 0.9 and 20.4 ± 1.2 mgGAE/ g EX, respectively, and flavonoids were174.84 ± 3.9 and 297.19 ± 3.4 mg QE /g EX, respectively. The anthocyanins and saponins content of AAE and PPE were 1.5 ± 33, 2.2 ± 52 and 2.8 ± 315.7mg/ g, respectively, and the DPPH of both AAE and PPE was 34.2 ± 1.7 and 64.9 ± 2.1mg/ g EX, respectively. The results showed that the LD50 of AAE was 1948.9 mg/ kg b.wt and that of PPE was 792.1 mg/ kg b.wt. The results showed that there was a decrease in the balance of the rats that were dosed with AAE after Orlistat, while the groups that were injected with Konjac and PPE did not have a significant decrease in weight. The results also showed that there was a decrease in the number of red blood cells, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit in the group of obese rats compared with the negative control group. Whereas, when treating obese rats with extracts of AAE and PPE, an improvement in hematological values was shown. The results also showed an increase in the number of white blood cells in the group of obese rats compared to the group treated with Orlistat and Konjac compared to the negative control group. While the treatment of the obese group with AAE resulted in a decrease in the number of white blood cells compared to the positive control obese group. The results showed that there was a significant increase in liver enzymes in the obese group compared to the negative control group. The group treated with Orlistat and Konjac showed a significant increase in liver enzyme activities compared to the obese group. On the contrary, treatment of obese rats with AAE and PPE led to a significant decrease in the activity of the ALT enzyme, and it also led to a significant decrease in the activity of the AST enzyme compared to the obese group. Also, the levels of total protein decreased significantly in the obese group compared to the negative control group, and the obese rats that were treated with Orlistat and Konjac showed a significant decrease in the level of total protein when compared to the obese group. However, treatment of obese rats with AAE and PPE resulted in a significant increase in total protein levels compared to the obese group. The level of total bilirubin was also evaluated in all groups, and the results showed that the obese group showed an increase in total bilirubin when compared to the negative control group. The obese group and the group treated with orlistat and konjac recorded an increase in total bilirubin, and treatment of rats using AAE and PPE resulted in a decrease in total bilirubin. The level of amylase in the blood was measured to determine the presence of inflammation in the pancreas and bilirubin ducts. The results showed an increase in amylase enzyme activity in the obese group compared to the negative group, while the group of obese rats that were treated with Orlistat showed a significant decrease in amylase activity when compared to the obese group, and treatment of obese rats with AAE resulted in a significant decrease in amylase activity in the blood. The levels of albumin and globulin decreased in obese rats that were treated with Orlistat and Konjac compared to the negative control group. Treatment of obese rats with AAE restored albumin and globulin levels. The results showed that the obese group recorded an increase in blood glucose levels compared to the negative control group, and also the orlistat group showed a decrease in blood glucose levels when compared to the obese group. Also, treatment of obese rats that were treated with AAE resulted in a significant decrease in glucose levels. The levels of urea and creatinine were measured as an indication of kidney function in all groups, and the results showed that there was an increase in the levels of urea and creatinine in the obese group compared to the negative control group. The group treated with Orlistat and Konjac also showed an increase in urea and creatinine levels when compared to the obese group. While treatment of obese rats with AAE resulted in an improvement in kidney function compared to the obese group. The obese group also showed a significant increase in the levels of cholesterol, LDL-C, vLDL-C and Atherogenic index compared to the negative control group, and a significant decrease in the levels of HD L-C in the obese group. While the group that was treated with Orlistat, Konjac, AAE, and PPE showed a significant decrease in the level of fat compared to the obese group. The groups treated with Orlistat, Konjac, AAE, and PPE also showed a significant increase in HDL-C levels compared to the obese group alone. The results showed that there was a decrease in CAT and SOD activities compared to the obese group and the negative control group. While the obese group recorded an increase in MDA levels compared to the negative control group. The obese group was treated with Orlistat and Konjac showed a significant decrease in CAT and SOD activities with a significant increase in MDA levels when compared to the obese group. While the groups was treated with AAE led to an improvement in antioxidants, and this was evident from the presence of a significant increase in the activities of CAT and SOD enzymes. With a significant decrease in MDA levels when compared to the obese group. Using a light microscope, the tissues of the liver and kidneys of obese rats were examined, and it was found that there had been a destruction of the liver tissue represented in the occurrence of bleeding in the hepatocytes and the central vein. The improvement was clear when using AAE more than PPE. Also, there was destruction of Bowman’s capsule and urinary tubes in the kidney tissue of obese rats, and bleeding between the urinary tubes also appeared, and this destruction increased using the drug Orlistat than in Konjac, and when treating with both AAE and PPE, it was found that an improvement occurred in those tissues, but by a greater percentage When using AAE about PPE. Conclusion: The study concluded that treatment with Orlistat drug led to a defect in both liver and kidney functions in obese rats, while Konjac did not significantly affect these disorders. The study concluded that treatment with AAE led to a significant improvement in liver and kidney functions, and also led to a significant decrease in weight. While treatment with PPE led to improvement, but to a lesser extent than AAE.