Abstract
Background: Hypothyroidism is characterized by decreased T3 and T4 levels and increased TSH levels. Hypothyroid obesity has been linked to numerous metabolic irregularities, such as slowed-down BMR. Citrullus colocynthis Linn. fruit has been utilized historically to decrease appetite and hence weight.
Objective: This study aimed to study the administration of Citrullus colocynthis Linnaeus ex-tracts for the treatment of hypothyroidism-induced obesity in mice and related serum biochemi-cal parameters and thyroid histopathology.
Methods: Hypothyroid obesity was brought about by giving the mice methimazole for 21 days consecutively. After that, the mice were given Citrullus colocynthis aqueous extract, alcoholic extract, and thyroxine standard for 21 days, and their ability to reverse the disease was examined. Blood samples were taken to estimate the serum biochemical parameters like normal thyroid hormone values, hypothyroidism-induced obesity hormone levels, and their levels after treat-ment with the test extracts. Lipid profile {Total Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, Very Low-Density Lipoprotein, and High-Density Lipoprotein}, and physical parameters such as waist cir-cumference, body weight, and water and food and consumption were recorded. Heart and Liver were removed from each group of the mice for oxidative stress measurement via estimation of Catalase, MDA, and GSH levels. For histological examination, the thyroid glands of each group of mice were removed and examined.
Results: GSH and Catalase levels of serum were significantly decreased (p<0.001); conversely, the MDA levels were increased significantly (p<0.001) in hypothyroid obese mice. MDA levels were decreased (p<0.0001) in the standard and test groups, while GSH and Catalase levels in-creased (p<0.0001) and moved toward normal values. The thyroid profile, lipid profile, and lev-els of TSH, TC, TGs, and VLDL were all increased after the introduction of hypothyroid obesity, whereas the levels of T3, T4 hormones, and HDL were dramatically decreased. The TSH (p<0.0001), TC (p<0.05), TGs (0.0001), and VLDL levels (p<0.0001) decreased following the treatment with standard drug and plant extracts, Catalase, and the levels of T3 (p<0.0001), T4 (p<0.0001), and HDL (p<0.0001) increased, moving towards the normal range. When compared to the control group, histological analysis and the thyroid gland of the hypothyroid obese group showed a significant reduction in colloid levels and a size-wise shrinkage of thyroid globules; in contrast, the thyroid globule size of the standard and test groups was shown to move towards the normal state.
Conclusion: The Citrullus colocynthis extracts can be applied as a secure herbal remedy for hypothyroid obesity in mice, and clinical trials can be conducted in this field for the exploration of their potential in human subjects.
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