Histopathological Evaluation of the Anti-Obesity Effects of the Plant Kenger (Gundelia tournefortii L.) in an Experimental Model of Obesity Induced in Rats.

In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Gundelia tournefortii extract were histopathologically investigated in experimental obesity induced by a high-calorie diet in rats. For this purpose, Wistar-Albino male rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 rats: Control (C), High-Calorie Diet (HC), High-Calorie Diet + Gundelia tournefortii 200 mg/kg (HCG1), and High-Calorie Diet + Gundelia tournefortii 400 mg/kg (HCG2). The study was conducted over a period of three months. Histopathological analyses of liver tissue samples revealed that the HC group exhibited fatty degeneration, with coagulation necrosis observed in hepatocytes. In the HCG1 group, the liver showed macro-microvesicular fat vacuoles in hepatocytes of the pericentral regions, although this accumulation was significantly milder compared to the HC group. Conversely, the HCG2 group displayed a histological appearance close to that of the control group, with only rare microvesicular fat vacuoles in hepatocytes. As a result, it is evaluated that the Gundelia tournefortii extract given with a highcalorie diet in rats has a hepatoprotective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]