Anti-obesity potential of potash alum: Pharmacological and biochemical approach

The objective of present study was to evaluate the pharmacological and biochemical role of Potash Alum as an anti-obesity agent in Wistar rats fed on high fat diet (HFD). Animals were fed on HFD (58% fat) with or without Potash Alum for 24 weeks. Results revealed that oral intake of Potash Alum exhibited significant reduction in body weight, food intake, serum triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TCs) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) whereas simultaneously increased the dry weight of feces, total lipids in feces, compared to HFD fed control. The levels of blood hemoglobin and glucose were also assessed and there were no significant changes in these parameters. We suggest that the inhibitory effects of potash alum on obesity, might be attributed to the inhibition of lipid absorption through the inhibition of pancreatic lipase.