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. 2020 Feb 20;15(1):57-65.
doi: 10.4103/1735-5362.278715. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Antiobesity effects of seedlac and shellac in rats fed with a high-fat diet

Asie Poorassar  1 , Mohammad Reza Shams Ardekani  1   2   3 , Valiollah Hajhashemi  4 , Roja Rahimi  1 , Mehran Mirabzadeh Ardakani  1 , Mohammadreza Aghayeghazvini  5
Affiliations

Antiobesity effects of seedlac and shellac in rats fed with a high-fat diet

Asie Poorassar et al. Res Pharm Sci. .

Abstract

Background and purpose: Obesity is a global health problem and also a well-known risk for many diseases. Although some synthetic drugs have been marketed for the treatment of obesity, natural remedies may be considered as safe and cost-effective alternatives. Lac (Kerria lacca Kerr) is a product from animal origin and is sold as seedlac or shellac. This drug is very famous among Unani practitioners for its antiobesity effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiobesity potential of lac in rats.

Experimental approach: The effect of lac on rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated through determination of the changes in body weight, and serum levels of leptin. In addition, the effect of lac on total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was studied. Male Wistar rats (170-220 g) were divided into eight groups; a control group with normal diet, the HFD group received a HFD, and the experimental groups received the HFD containing 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% (w/w) of seedlac or 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% (w/w) of shellac for 12 weeks. The body weight of each rat was measured once a week. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and serum concentrations of cholesterol, TG, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and leptin were determined.

Results: The study showed that seedlac and shellac significantly prevented increasing body weight and the levels of serum leptin were decreased in treated groups compared with HFD group. Also, shellac decreased TG level and both shellac and seedlac exerted a significant increase in HDL-C concentration.

Conclusion and implications: Lac had weight-reducing properties and could be a promising alternative for controlling obesity.

Keywords: Leptin; Obesity; Seedlac; Shellac.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest for this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of shellac (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%) on animal weight changes. All values are expressed as mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/group. *P < 0.05 indicates significant differences between HFD vs control group and #P < 0.05 shows differences between HFD + 0.2% shellac or HFD + 0.4% shellac compared with HFD group. HFD, high fat diet.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of seedlac (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%) on animal weight changes. All values are expressed as mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/group. *P < 0.05 HFD shows significant differences compared to control group and #P < 0.05 indicates HFD+ 0.2% seedlac or HFD + 0.4% seedlac differ significantly from HFD group.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effects of shellac and seedlac (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%) on serum concentration of leptin. Values are mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/group. * P < 0.05 indicates differences between HFD and control group and # P < 0.05 shows differences HFD + 0.2% shellac or seedlac in comparison with HFD alone. HDF, High fat diet.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effects of shellac or seedlac (1, 2, and 4%) on serum concentration of total cholesterol. All values represent mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/group. HFD, High fat diet.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effect of shellac or seedlac (1, 2, and 4%) supplementation on serum concentration of HDL-C. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of serum HDL. n = 6 rats/group. * P < 0.05 indicates significant differences compared to control and HFD groups. HDL-C, High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HFD, high fat diet.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Effect of shellac or seedlac (1, 2, and 4%) on serum concentration of LDL in HFD-fed rats. All values are mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/group. LDL-C, Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HFD, high fat diet.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Effects of shellac or seedlac (1, 2, and 4%) on serum concentration of TG. Values show mean ± SD. n = 6 rats/ group. *P < 0.05 indicates significant differences in comparison with control group and #P < 0.05 shows significant differences when compared with HFD alone. TG, Triglyceride; HFD; high fat diet.
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