The effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium on appetite hormone in rats

Abstract

<br /><strong>Objective: </strong><em>Achillea millefolium</em> (<em>A. millefolium</em>) is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. In this study, the possible orexigenic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of <em>A. millefolium</em> was investigated by measuring plasma ghrelin level.<br /><br /><strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Control group received water. Treatment groups received 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of <em>A. millefolium </em>extract for 7 days via gavage. Before the intervention, daily amount of the food eaten by each rat was measured for 10 days. During the investigation, the amount of energy intake of each rat was also estimated 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hr after each intake, for 7 days. Later, the orexigenic dose of extract and distilled water was fed to two separate groups of 6 male Wistar rats. Plasma ghrelin level was measured 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hr after extract intake.<br /><br /><strong>Results: </strong>The change in energy intake after treatment by 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract was significantly higher than other groups (p<0.001). Administration of Achillea 100mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreased ghrelin level one hr after intervention but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference among control and treated group.<br /><br /><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study indicated that <em>A. millefolium</em> had positive dose-related effects on appetite in rats. It seems that the orexigenic activity of extract was not related to changes in plasma ghrelin levels.