Abstract
This study evaluates the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of phytoconstituents, such as sesamin and α-linolenic acid (ALA), in a high-fat diet (HFD)- induced Drosophila melanogaster obese model. Male wild-type Drosophila were fed an HFD (10% coconut oil) to induce obesity for 5 days. The obese flies were treated with the test compounds (sesamin, ALA) and rosuvastatin as a standard drug. Sesamin and ALA were tested for acute toxicity studies to calculate the doses for the efficacy study. Body weight, climbing, negative geotaxis, and cold stress were performed as behavioural assays, and lipid profiling (total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG, LDL, and HDL), glucose levels, and total protein content was determined as biochemical assays. Results demonstrated that sesamin and ALA have good potency in significantly improving behavioural parameters (P < 0.05). However, when compared, ALA showed better potency in enhancing these parameters. ALA has better potency in reducing TG and LDL levels, which are responsible for cardiovascular disease. Sesamin has better efficacy in improving the level of HDL, which an HFD reduces in flies, which is responsible for atherosclerosis. Sesamin reduced lipid profile in a dose-dependent manner, but required higher doses to achieve comparable lipid-lowering effects. In conclusion, ALA exhibited more substantial protective effects in reducing hyperlipidemia compared to control flies as an anti-hyperlipidemic agent in a dose-dependent manner.
