Antiobesity Effects of Plantain flour on Obese Rats Induced by High-fat Diet

In order to prevent and intervene obesity with natural products, a new banana variety ‘plantain’ (Musa spp. Plantain ABB) was used. The banana flour produced with green unripe fruits of plantain, rich in resistant starch. Hereby, the plantain flour was made from a new selected variety, to evaluate the antiobesity effects on obese rats induced by high-fat diet. Three doses(1.25, 2.5, 5.0 G/(kg BW) d) and orlistat positive control were designed and grouped separately, and the parameters of body weight, liver and blood biochemical indexes in obese rats, were measured after 6 weeks intervention. The results showed that after 6 weeks intervention, the body weight of the rats in the three dose groups was significantly lower than that in the obese control group(P<0.01), which decreased by 13.77%, 8.44% and 11.82% respectively. Low dose of plantain could obviously inhibit the fat accumulation in obese rats, and the fat coefficient decreased by 21.11% compared with obese rats. Liver biopsies observation showed that plantain reduced fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver. The intervention significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, compared with the obesity group, the low dose group with the best effect of intervention decreased by 43.85% and 66.67% respectively. Under the intervention of plantain, the blood sugar in the low dose group was significantly lower than that of the obese group, with a decrease of 19.31%. The intervention of plantain significantly reduced the content of aspartate transaminase which is liver function index. To sum up, plantain had a good effect on antiobesity, and it was benefit for the alleviation of fatty liver, repairing the liver damage and reduction of blood sugar and blood fat.