High-Fat Diet Induced Bone Defects in Rats, and The Ameliorative Effect of Portulaca oleracea and Cucurbita moschata Seeds, and Their Phytochemical Characteristics

In the current study, the negative impact of a high-fat diet and obesity on bone health was investigated. The protective effect of Portulaca oleracea (purslane), Cucurbita moschata (pumpkin) seeds, and a mix of them, as well as their efficiency in treating bone damage caused by obesity, was estimated. Bakery products (cake, toast, and crackers) fortified with purslane, pumpkin seeds, and a combination of both were prepared and evaluated for their chemical and sensory properties. Phytochemical characterizations of the tested seeds were evaluated. Vitamin and amino acid contents in the tested seeds were estimated using HPLC analysis. The results revealed that cakes fortified with pumpkin seed powder, toast supplemented with purslane seed flour, and crackers made with a mixture of pumpkin and purslane seed flour showed the highest acceptability (8.9, 8.2, and 7.7, respectively). All fortified products showed a markedly high content of fiber and ash. Histopathological findings revealed that a high-fat diet caused marked degeneration of hepatocytes, thinning of compact bone, and loose trabeculae. It is worth mentioning that nearly normal bone shafts with almost no defects are observed in the pumpkin and mixed feeding groups (prevention and treatment), as well as in the purslane treatment group. Furthermore, pumpkin and purslane seeds are rich in a diversity of phytoconstituents. Glutamic acid is the major amino acid in purslane and pumpkin seeds. Moreover, vitamin B3 was the predominant vitamin in purslane seeds, while vitamins B1 and B6 were the predominant vitamins in pumpkin seeds. The results revealed that the tested seeds are rich in minerals, with potassium and iron being the most predominant minerals. These nutrients are associated with the observed improvement in the histopathological findings. Our results highlight the efficacy of purslane and pumpkin seed in mitigating the harmful effects that may occur on bones as a consequence of high-fat feeding or obesity.