ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Obesity has been linked to coronary artery disease, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, and cancer. Pomegranate (Punica granatum; PG) has been used extensively in folk medicine for several therapeutic purposes. The goal of this study is to investigate the anti-obesity effect of PG peel and pulp methanolic extracts in highfat diet (HFD)-induced Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: The animals were separated into 7 groups namely Normal control group (normal diet); HFD-induced only as negative control group, and positive control group (HFD-induced + orlistat); treatment group included HFD-induced + peel 125 mg/kg, HFD-induced +peel 250 mg/kg, HFD-induced + pulp 125 mg/kg and HFD-induced + pulp 250 mg/kg. Results: It was observed that methanolic extract of peel and pulp PG 250 mg/kg showed low increment of body weight with a reduction in weight of liver, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat. Compared to the negative control group, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels were shown to be lowered for PG peel and pulp groups also showed higher values in high-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: PG reduced obesity-related markers in blood, liver, and adipose tissue and inhibited obesity caused by a high-fat diet probably because of its antioxidant properties.
ABSTRACT
Positron emission tomography computed tomography [PET-CT] is a combined functional and structural multi modality imaging tool that can be utilized to detect vulnerable and atherosclerotic plaques. In this study we observe the prevalence of active and calcified plaques in selected arteries during whole-body [18]F-FDG PET-CT and correlate the findings with risk factors in developing coronary artery disease. There was a significant relationship between patients with high body mass index and vulnerable plaques. We concluded that [18]F-FDG PET-CT can be utilized in detecting focal high FDG uptake within vascular plaque in early recognition of high risk patients having vascular accidents