Effect of Sutherlandia frutescens on the Lipid Metabolism in an Insulin Resistant Rat Model and 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

High fat diet induced insulin resistance correlates with dyslipidaemia and ectopic fat deposits in skeletal muscle and liver. The effects of Sutherlandia frutescens, an antidiabetic medicinal plant, on lipid metabolism were evaluated in an insulin resistant (IR) rat model and in 3?T3-preadipocytes. Wistar rats received normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD). After the onset of IR in the HFD group, the rats were subdivided into two subgroups, which either continued with HFD or were treated with 50?mg S. frutescens/kg BW/day and HFD (HFD?+?SF). After 4?weeks, the HFD?+?SF rats had a significantly lower body weight than the HFD rats (p?