Project Abstract

Abstract
The prevalence of obesity and associated metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia is a growing concern worldwide. Dietary interventions and traditional herbal remedies have been explored as possible strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of high-fat diets on lipid profiles. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Kaka bitters, a traditional herbal remedy, on the lipid profile of Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups Control (standard diet), HF (high-fat diet), HF + KB100 (high-fat diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg of Kaka bitters), HF + KB200 (high-fat diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg of Kaka bitters), and HF + KB400 (high-fat diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg of Kaka bitters). The intervention lasted for six weeks. At the end of the intervention period, blood samples were collected, and serum lipid profiles were assessed. The results showed that rats in the high-fat diet group (HF) had significantly elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, rats supplemented with Kaka bitters showed a dose-dependent reduction in TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C levels. The group supplemented with 400 mg/kg of Kaka bitters (HF + KB400) exhibited the most significant reduction in lipid levels compared to the HF group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower in the HF group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, supplementation with Kaka bitters led to a dose-dependent increase in HDL-C levels, with the HF + KB400 group showing the highest levels among the supplemented groups. In conclusion, Kaka bitters supplementation demonstrated a beneficial effect on the lipid profile of Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet. The herbal remedy was found to reduce TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C levels while increasing HDL-C levels in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Kaka bitters may have potential therapeutic applications in managing dyslipidemia associated with high-fat diets. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and assess the long-term effects of Kaka bitters supplementation.

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