Evaluation of anti-obesity activities of ethanolic extract of Terminalia paniculata bark on high fat diet-induced obese rats

Diet-induced animal model anti-obesity, phytochemical profiling, and in silico analysis of culinary plant gokhru (Pedalium murex L.) mucilage

Plant-based diets (PBDs) are renowned for managing and developing bioactive chemical inhibitors to combat obesity, a well-known global public health concern. There are currently no published research studies examining the effects of food plant mucilage dietary supplements on animal models of obesity induced by high-fat diets (HFD). The present research investigated the anti-obesity properties of the culinary plant Pedalium murex L. mucilage (PMM) in obese albino male rats models fed HFD. PMM's HR-LCMS phytochemical profiling and in silico evaluation of anti-obesity and drug-likeness using Schrodinger's Glide, QikProp, and GROMACS modules were also investigated. In vivo, anti-obesity model animal rat's daily dietary intake, common blood biochemical parameters, and histological examination of the liver and kidney tissues for the development of macrovesicular and microvesicular steatosis were all performed. Among the 46 Phytochemicals profiled, 7(14)-Bisabolene-2, 3, 10,11tetrol, Moschamine, and N-Feruloyltyramine show prominent anti-obesity activity and drug-like characteristics in silico. Rats given PMM showed significantly lower serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs), increased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as well as macro-and microvesicular steatosis, lobular inflammation of the liver and kidney tissues. This suggests that PMM is an effective natural anti-obesity therapeutic ingredient or dietary supplement with a high concentration of anti-obesity phytochemicals that mainly satisfies the needs for such natural anti-obesity medicine or a supplement.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The Potential Chemopreventive Effect of Andrographis paniculata on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is responsible for a notable rise in the overall mortality rate. Obesity is found to be one of the main factors behind CRC development. Andrographis paniculata is a herbaceous plant famous for its medicinal properties, particularly in Southeast Asia for its anti-cancer properties. This study examines the chemopreventive impact of A. paniculata ethanolic extract (APEE) against a high-fat diet and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in Sprague Dawley rats. Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p. once a week for 10 weeks) and a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks to induce colorectal cancer. APEE was administered at 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg for 20 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood serum and organs were collected. DMH/HFD-induced rats had abnormal crypts and more aberrant crypt foci (ACF). APEE at a dose of 500 mg/kg improved the dysplastic state of the colon tissue and caused a 32% reduction in the total ACF. HFD increased adipocyte cell size, while 500 mg/kg APEE reduced it. HFD and DMH/HFD rats had elevated serum insulin and leptin levels. Moreover, UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that APEE was rich in anti-cancer phytochemicals. This finding suggests that APEE has anti-cancer potential against HFD/DMH-induced CRC and anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties.

Carica Papaya Reduces High Fat Diet and Streptozotocin-Induced Development of Inflammation in Adipocyte via IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α Mediated Signaling Mechanisms in Type-2 Diabetic Rats

The prevalence of obesity in contemporary society has brought attention to how serious it is all around the world. Obesity, a proinflammatory condition defined by hypertrophied adipocytes and immune cells that reside in adipose tissue, is characterized by elevated circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines. The pro-inflammatory mediators trigger a number of inflammatory pathways and affect the phosphorylation of a number of insulin-signaling pathways in peripheral tissues. In this work, we pointed the outcome of the leaves of Carica papaya (C. papaya) on the inflammatory molecules by in vivo and in silico analysis in order to prove its mechanisms of action. Adipocytokines, antioxidant enzymes, gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules (mTOR, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IKKβ) by q-RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, as well as histopathological analysis, in adipose tissues were carried out. C. papaya reinstated the levels of adipocytokines, antioxidant enzymes and mRNA levels of mTOR, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IKKβ in the adipose tissues of type 2 diabetic rats. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies revealed that caffeic acid, transferulic acid and quercetin had the top hit rates against IKKβ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and mTOR. This study concludes that C. papaya put back the altered effects in fatty tissue of type 2 diabetic rats by restoring the adipocytokines and the gene expression.

Sesamin Activates Skeletal Muscle FNDC5 Expression and Increases Irisin Secretion via the SIRT1 Signaling Pathway

Sesamin, a major lignin mainly found in sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil and sesame seeds, has been demonstrated to possess lipoclasis-promoting, antiobesity, and antidiabetic effects. Irisin is a newly discovered myokine that has attracted great interest as a key target to prevent/treat obesity and its related metabolic diseases. However, the effect and potential mechanism of sesamin on FNDC5/irisin are still vacant. In this study, we showed that sesamin treatment increased FNDC5/irisin activation and regulated SIRT1, PGC-1α, and p-SMAD3/SMAD3 expression in C2C12 cells. By using specific inhibitors and lentivirus in C2C12 cells, we found that the SIRT1/SMAD3 axis plays an important role in sesamin regulated FNDC5/irisin activation. We also found that sesamin treatment activated FNDC5 expression and regulated the SIRT1/SMAD3 signaling axis in mice's skeletal muscle. What is more, by the high-fat diet induced obese model, we further showed that sesamin improved the high-fat diet induced decrease in irisin production and secretion, which results in an improvement of body weight gain and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Our results suggested that sesamin could activate FNDC5 expression and stimulate irisin secretion through the SIRT1 pathway both in vitro and in vivo, which may provide a new strategy for preventing and improving irisin deficiency related diseases.

A Comprehensive Review on Anti-obesity Potential of Medicinal Plants and their Bioactive Compounds

Background:

Obesity is a complex health and global epidemic issue. It is an increasing global health challenge covering significant social and economic costs. Abnormal accumulation of fat in the body may increase the health risks including diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer. Synthetic drugs available on the market reported to have several side effects. Therefore, the management of obesity got to involve the traditional use of medicinal plants which helps to search the new therapeutic targets and supports the research and development of anti-obesity drugs.

Objective:

This review aim to update the data and provide a comprehensive report of currently available knowledge of medicinal plants and phyto-chemical constituents reported for their anti-obesity activity.

Methodology:

An electronic search of the periodical databases like Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, Niscair, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar with information reported the period 1991-2019, was used to retrieve published data.

Results:

A comprehensive report of the present review manuscript is an attempt to list the medicinal plants with anti-obesity activity. The review focused on plant extracts, isolated chemical compounds with their mechanism of action and their preclinical experimental model, clinical studies for further scientific research.

Conclusion:

This review is the compilation of the medicinal plants and their constituents reported for the managements of obesity. The data will fascinate the researcher to initiate further research that may lead to the drug for the management of obesity and their associated secondary complications. Several herbal plants and their respective lead constituents were also screened by preclinical In-vitro and In-vivo, clinical trials and are effective in the treatment of obesity. Therefore, there is a need to develop and screen large number of plant extracts and this approach can surely be a driving force for the discovery of anti-obesity drugs from medicinal plants.

Dillenia Indica Fruit Extract Suppressed Diet-induced Obesity in Rats by Down-regulating the mRNA Level of Proadipogenic Transcription Factors and Lipid Metabolizing Enzymes

Background:

Dillenia indica (Family: Dilleniaceae) is an antioxidant-rich edible fruitbearing medicinal plant. The fruit of this plant (known as elephant apple) has many uses in traditional medicine.

Objective:

By considering its antioxidant content and ameliorating effects, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic effects of D. indica fruit extract (DIFE) on high-fat diet (HFD) fed obese rats.

Methods:

Male Wistar rats were fed with a standard diet (SD), or high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg DIFE for 8 weeks. The fruit extract was given orally by feeding gavage. The body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, plasma lipids, and oxidative stress-related parameters were measured. The mRNA level of different adipogenesis related transcription factors, lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes was also evaluated.

Results:

Consumption of DIFE daily (400 mg/kg) for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat diet-induced body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol level. High-fat diet-mediated elevation of oxidative stress markers was also lowered, with a parallel augmentation of the activities of antioxidant enzymes, due to 400 mg/kg DIFE feeding. DIFE also down-regulated the mRNA level of important pro-adipogenic factors like PPARγ, LXRα, and SREBP1c which consequently downregulated the transcript levels of lipogenic enzymes: ACC, FAS, HMGCR, and DGAT. The transcript level of lipolytic enzyme, HSL was also down-regulated in 400 mg/kg DIFE-fed rats.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that the antioxidant-rich ethanolic extract of D. indica fruit can down-regulate the gene expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and lipid metabolizing enzymes and thus can suppress diet-induced obesity in Wistar rat.

Combination of system biology to probe the anti-viral activity of andrographolide and its derivative against COVID-19

The present study aimed to investigate the binding affinity of andrographolide and its derivative i.e., 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide with targets related to COVID-19 and their probable role in regulating multiple pathways in COVID-19 infection. SMILES of both compounds were retrieved from the PubChem database and predicted for probably regulated proteins. The predicted proteins were queried in STRING to evaluate the protein-protein interaction, and modulated pathways were identified concerning the KEGG database. Drug-likeness and ADMET profile of each compound was evaluated using MolSoft and admetSAR 2.0, respectively. Molecular docking was carried using Autodock 4.0. Andrographolide and its derivative were predicted to have a high binding affinity with papain-like protease, coronavirus main proteinase, and spike protein. Molecular dynamics simulation studies were performed for each complex which suggested the strong binding affinities of both compounds with targets. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that both compounds modulated the immune system by regulating chemokine signaling, Rap1 signaling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signaling, NF-kappa B signaling, RAS signaling, p53 signaling, HIF-1 signaling, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The study suggests strong interaction of andrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide against COVID-19 associated target proteins and exhibited different immunoregulatory pathways.

Diospyros kaki and Citrus unshiu Mixture Improves Disorders of Lipid Metabolism in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been a major cause of a chronic liver disease over recent decades and increasing worldwide in parallel with the remarkable growth of obesity. In the present study, we investigate the ameliorative effects of PCM, a combination of Diospyros kaki fruit and Citrus unshiu peel mixture, on high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced NAFLD and clarify the potential mechanisms. PCM in HFD-fed mice was orally administered at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg subsequently for 2 months. Thereafter, lipid metabolism parameters and fat synthesis-related genes in the mouse liver were evaluated. Subsequently, body weight changes, liver weight, serum liver function and lipid profiles, and liver pathology were examined, and the relative levels of fatty acid synthesis and β-oxidation gene expression were evaluated by western blot. Serum AST, ALT, and TG levels in the HFD control mice were significantly higher than those of normal mice. Compared with HFD control mice, PCM supplementation increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α was significantly increased by PCM administration. Continuously, the activation of PPARα significantly elevated carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), a key enzyme in fatty acid β-oxidation, and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2), thermogenic regulatory genes, in PCM-treated mice compared with those of HFD control mice. Moreover, PCM inhibits lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis via suppression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and SREBP-2 and its target genes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). Taken together, these effects were mediated through activation of AMPK. In the conclusion, PCM improved liver damage in HFD-fed mice and attenuated NAFLD by the activation of PPARα and the inhibition of SREBPs expression via AMPK-dependent pathways.

Plants of the Genus Terminalia: An Insight on Its Biological Potentials, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies

The evaluation and confirmation of healing properties of several plant species of genus Terminalia based on their traditional uses and the clinical claims are of utmost importance. Genus Terminalia has received more attention to assess and validate the therapeutic potential and clinical approval due to its immense folk medicinal and traditional applications. Various species of Terminalia genus are used in the form of herbal medicine and formulations, in treatment of diseases, including headache, fever, pneumonia, flu, geriatric, cancer, to improve memory, abdominal and back pain, cough and cold, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, heart disorder, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract disorders. These are reported to possess numerous biological properties, counting: antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antiretroviral, antioxidant, and antipa7rasitic. This current research review aims to update the detailed biological activities, pre-clinical and clinical studies of various extracts and secondary metabolites from several plant species under the genus Terminalia, along with information on the traditional uses and chemical composition to develop a promising strategy for their potential applications in the form of medicine or use in modern drug formulations for treating diseases like pneumonia, flu, and other types of viral infections or controlling human contagions.

Effects and mechanisms of edible and medicinal plants on obesity: an updated review

In recent years, obesity has become a global public health issue. It is closely associated with the occurrence of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Some edible and medicinal plants show anti-obesity activity, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, legumes, edible flowers, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Numerous studies have indicated that these plants are potential candidates for the prevention and management of obesity. The major anti-obesity mechanisms of plants include suppressing appetite, reducing the absorption of lipids and carbohydrates, inhibiting adipogenesis and lipogenesis, regulating lipid metabolism, increasing energy expenditure, regulating gut microbiota, and improving obesity-related inflammation. In this review, the anti-obesity activity of edible and medicinal plants was summarized based on epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies, with related mechanisms discussed, which provided the basis for the research and development of slimming products. Further studies should focus on the exploration of safer plants with anti-obesity activity and the identification of specific anti-obesity mechanisms.

The Genus Terminalia (Combretaceae): An Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review

Terminalia Linn, a genus of mostly medium or large trees in the family Combretaceae with about 250 species in the world, is distributed mainly in southern Asia, Himalayas, Madagascar, Australia, and the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. Many species are used widely in many traditional medicinal systems, e.g., traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine practices. So far, about 39 species have been phytochemically studied, which led to the identification of 368 compounds, including terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, simple phenolics and so on. Some of the isolates showed various bioactivities, in vitro or in vivo, such as antitumor, anti HIV-1, antifungal, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant, diarrhea and analgesic. This review covers research articles from 1934 to 2018, retrieved from SciFinder, Wikipedia, Google Scholar, Chinese Knowledge Network and Baidu Scholar by using "Terminalia" as the search term ("all fields") with no specific time frame setting for the search. Thirty-nine important medicinal and edible Terminalia species were selected and summarized on their geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry and related pharmacological activities.

Gold nanoparticles synthesized with Smilax glabra rhizome modulates the anti-obesity parameters in high-fat diet and streptozotocin induced obese diabetes rat model

Diabetes is a major emerging health consequence across the world which directly associated with the obesity. Contemporary anti-diabetic drugs have numeral limitations, and investigation of herbal remedies for diabetes give novel guide for the expansion of new drugs that can be used as harmonizing to present anti-diabetic allopathic medications. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 21 nm have been formerly well portrayed in vitro for their capability to intend active uptake in cell. Our present study was dealing with the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by means of Smilax glabra rhizome amend the anti-obesity constraints in high-fat diet by streptozotocin provoked obese diabetes in rat model. Characterization studies like UV -Spectroscopy, XRD analysis, SEM, TEM microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, and FT-IR investigation confirms the availability of dimension, shape and size. Biochemical parameters like blood glucose and insulin sufferance and its release, lipid profile, aterogenic & coronary index, liver markers, inflammatory markers, hormones like leptin, resistin, adiponectin indicates the therapeutic effect of gold nanoparticles harvested from Smilax glabra on obese and diabetic rats. Histopathological examinations displayed the disturbed internal structures of obese and diabetic rats liver and heart tissues. Whereas, treatment with gold nanoparticles synthesized from Smilax glabra restored the internal membrane, nuclei and cytoplasm. All these findings confirmed the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effect of synthesized gold nanoparticles from Smilax glabra.

Anti-obesity effects of Spirulina platensis protein hydrolysate by modulating brain-liver axis in high-fat diet fed mice

Spirulina platensis is a blue-green algae with potential anti-obesity effects. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of whole Spirulina platensis (WSP), Spirulina platensis protein (SPP) and Spirulina platensis protein hydrolysate (SPPH) were compared in high-fat diet fed mice, and the potential acting mechanism of SPPH was also investigated. Totally, SPPH exhibited good anti-obesity effects (reducing 39.8%±9.7% of body weight), lowering 23.8%±1.6% of serum glucose, decreasing 20.8%±1.4% of total cholesterol, while positive drug Simvastatin had the corresponding values: 8.3%±4.6%, 24.8%±1.9% and -2.1%±0.2%, respectively. Subsequently, PCR array was used to conduct gene expression analysis in brain and liver tissues of SPPH-treated mice, which displayed distinctly different expression pattern. The most markedly changed genes included: Acadm (-34.7 fold), Gcg (2.5 fold), Adra2b (2 fold) and Ghsr (2 fold) in brain; Retn (39 fold), Fabp4 (15.5 fold), Ppard (6 fold) and Slc27a1 (5.4 fold) in liver. Further network analysis demonstrated that the significantly expressed genes in brain and liver tissues were mapped into an interacting network, suggesting a modulatory effect on brain-liver axis, major pathways were involved in the axis: PPAR, adipocytokine, AMPK, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and MAPK. This study showed that Spirulina platensis protein hydrolysate possessed anti-obesity effect in mice.

Chemical Compositions, Antiobesity, and Antioxidant Effects of Proanthocyanidins from Lotus Seed Epicarp and Lotus Seed Pot

Lotus seed epicarp (LSE) and lotus seed pot (LSP) were characterized, and a total of 5 and 7 proanthocyanidins (PAs) were identified in purified LSE and LSP extract, respectively. Purified LSE and LSP PAs significantly suppressed the body weight and weight gain of white adipose tissue (WAT) and decreased the WAT cell size in high-fat diet-induced obese mice regardless of the daily food intake. LSE or LSP administration significantly lowered the serum leptin level and improved the serum and liver lipid profiles (including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels), increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione transferase (GST)) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration, and suppressed lipid peroxidation in hepatic tissue. LSP PAs were generally more effective than LSE PAs. Both extracts ameliorated obesity, insulin resistance, and oxidative damage in obese mice, suggesting they are good candidates for value-added functional food and nutraceutical ingredients.

Antiobesity Effects of Purple Perilla (Perilla frutescens var. acuta) on Adipocyte Differentiation and Mice Fed a High-fat Diet

Purple perilla (PE) is a medicinal plant that has several health benefits. In this study, the antiobesity effect of PE was studied in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diets. Triglyceride quantification and Oil Red O staining in matured adipocytes revealed that PE reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes by downregulating adipogenic gene and upregulating lipolytic gene expressions. Mice were fed normal diet, high-fat diet and high-fat diet supplemented with different concentrations of PE. Treatment with PE significantly prevented body weight gain, improved serum lipids, hepatic lipids and reduced the epididymal fat. Furthermore, in the adipose tissue and liver, expression of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation were upregulated in PE- treated mice. Thus, our results suggested that PE has antiobesity effects in rodents and can be effective in obesity management.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Purple perilla, rich in polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid, showed lipid lowering in adipocyte cells and prevented body weight gain in mice. Therefore we conclude that purple perilla may be a potential candidate for the development of functional foods or nutraceuticals in managing obesity in humans.

Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of Arjunarishta in high-fat fed animals

Background

Arjunarishta (AA), a formulation used as cardiotonic is a hydroalcoholic formulation of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. (TA) belonging to family Combretaceae.

Objective

To evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Arjunarishta on high-fat diet fed animals.

Materials and methods

High-fat diet fed (HFD) Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated with phytochemically standardized Arjunarishta (1.8 ml/kg), and hydroalcoholic extract of T. arjuna (TAHA) (250 mg/kg) and rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), for 3 months. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, blood biochemistry, liver triglyceride and systolic blood pressure were performed in all the groups. Effect of these drugs on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) were studied in liver tissue using Quantitative Real-time PCR.

Results

HFD increased fasting blood glucose, liver triglyceride, systolic blood pressure and gene expression of TNF-α, IRS-1 and PGC-1α. Treatment of AA and TAHA significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These treatments significantly decreased gene expression of TNF-α (2.4, 2.2 and 2.6 fold change); increased IRS-1 (2.8, 2.9 and 2.8 fold change) and PGC-1α (2.9, 3.7 and 3.3 fold change) as compared to untreated HFD.

Conclusion

Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Arjunarishta may be mediated by decreased TNF-α and increased PGC-1α and IRS-1.

Anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of synthetic acetic acid vinegar and Nipa vinegar on high-fat-diet-induced obese mice

Recently, food-based bioactive ingredients, such as vinegar, have been proposed as a potential solution to overcome the global obesity epidemic. Although acetic acid has been identified as the main component in vinegar that contributes to its anti-obesity effect, reports have shown that vinegar produced from different starting materials possess different degrees of bioactivity. This study was performed to compare the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of synthetic acetic acid vinegar and Nipa vinegar in mice fed a high-fat diet. In this work, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 33 weeks. At the start of week 24, obese mice were orally fed synthetic acetic acid vinegar or Nipa vinegar (0.08 and 2 ml/kg BW) until the end of week 33. Mice fed a standard pellet diet served as a control. Although both synthetic acetic acid vinegar and Nipa vinegar effectively reduced food intake and body weight, a high dose of Nipa vinegar more effectively reduced lipid deposition, improved the serum lipid profile, increased adipokine expression and suppressed inflammation in the obese mice. Thus, a high dose of Nipa vinegar may potentially alleviate obesity by altering the lipid metabolism, inflammation and gut microbe composition in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice.

Morinda citrifolia L. leaf extract prevent weight gain in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet

Background: Morinda citrifolia L. is widely used as a folk medicinal food plant to manage a panoply of diseases, though no concrete reports on its potential anti-obesity activity. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of M. citrifolia leaf extracts (MLE60) in the prevention of weight gain in vivo and establish its phytochemical profile. Design: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups based on a normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD), with or without MLE60 supplementation (150 and 350 mg/kg body weight) and assessed for any reduction in weight gain. Plasma leptin, insulin, adiponectin, and ghrelin of all groups were determined. 1H NMR and LCMS methods were employed for phytochemical profiling of MLE60. Results: The supplementation of MLE60 did not affect food intake indicating that appetite suppression might not be the main anti-obesity mechanism involved. In the treated groups, MLE60 prevented weight gain, most likely through an inhibition of pancreatic and lipoprotein activity with a positive influence on the lipid profiles and a reduction in LDL levels . MLE60 also attenuated visceral fat deposition in treated subjects with improvement in the plasma levels of obesity-linked factors . 1Spectral analysis showed the presence of several bioactive compounds with rutin being more predominant. Conclusion: MLE60 shows promise as an anti-obesity agents and warrants further research.

Ethanolic Fraction of Terminalia tomentosa Attenuates Biochemical and Physiological Derangements in Diet Induced Obese Rat Model by Regulating Key Lipid Metabolizing Enzymes and Adipokines

The prevalence of overweight-obesity and associated comorbidities have reached alarming levels necessitating the need to explore effective therapeutics. In the present work, we demonstrated the promising antiobesity activity of ethanolic fraction of Terminalia tomentosa bark (EFTT) in diet induced obese rat model. High Fat Diet (HFD)-fed obese rats were orally administered with EFTT (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight). Changes in body weight, body composition, bone mineral concentration, bone mineral density, plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, circulatory and tissue lipid profiles, and the activities of liver antioxidant enzymes, key lipid metabolic enzymes and mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), leptin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were assessed in experimental rats in the presence and absence of EFTT. At a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt, EFTT has substantially attenuated body weight and related patho-physiological alterations in HFD-induced obese rats. These findings were correlated with histological observations of adipose tissue. The therapeutic activity of EFTT could be possibly through restoration of antioxidants status, regulation of key lipid metabolizing enzymes, expression of FAS, leptin, PPAR-γ and by synchronized control of energy metabolism in liver and adipose tissue.

Supplementation of Syzygium cumini seed powder prevented obesity, glucose intolerance, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in high carbohydrate high fat diet induced obese rats

Background

Obesity and related complications have now became epidemic both in developed and developing countries. Cafeteria type diet mainly composed of high fat high carbohydrate components which plays a significant role in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

This study investigated the effect of Syzygium cumini seed powder on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia in high carbohydrate high fat diet (HCHF) induced obese rats.

Method

Male Wistar rats were fed with HCHF diet ad libitum, and the rats on HCHF diet were supplemented with Syzygium cumini seed powder for 56 days (2.5% w/w of diet). Oral glucose tolerance test, lipid parameters, liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and lipid peroxidation products were analyzed at the end of 56 days. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities were also measured in all groups of rats.

Results

Supplementation with Syzygium cumini seed powder significantly reduced body weight gain, white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, blood glucose, serum insulin, and plasma lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL concentration. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation in HCHF rats improved serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation also reduced the hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and elevated the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as increased glutathione (GSH) concentration. In addition, histological assessment showed that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevented inflammatory cell infiltration; fatty droplet deposition and fibrosis in liver of HCHFD fed rats.

Conclusion

Our investigation suggests that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevents oxidative stress and showed anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity in liver of HCHF diet fed rats. In addition, Syzygium cumini seed powder may be beneficial in ameliorating insulin resistance and dyslipidemia probably by increasing lipid metabolism in liver of HCHF diet fed rats.

Hot-Water Extracts from Roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana and Identified ε-Viniferin Improve Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice

In this study, hot-water extracts (HW) from roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT-R) were shown to lower levels of lipid accumulation significantly (P < 0.01 or 0.001) compared to the control in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The VTT-R-HW (40 mg/kg) interventions concurrent with a high-fat (HF) diet in C57BL/6 mice over a 5 eek period were shown to reduce body weights significantly (P < 0.05) compared to those of mice fed a HF diet under the same food-intake regimen. The (+)-ε-viniferin isolated from VTT-R-HW was shown to reduce the size of lipid deposits significantly compared to the control (P < 0.05 or 0.001) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and dose-dependent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitions showed that the 50% inhibitory concentration was calculated to be 96 μM. The two-stage (+)-ε-viniferin interventions (10 mg/kg, day 1 to day 38; 25 mg/kg, day 39 to day 58) were shown to lower mice body weights significantly (P < 0.05 or 0.001), the weight ratio of mesenteric fat, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to that of the HF group under the same food-intake regimen but without concurrent VTT-R-HW interventions. It might be possible to use VTT-R-HW or (+)-ε-viniferin as an ingredient in the development of functional foods for weight management, and this will need to be investigated further.

The Effects of Gymnema sylvestre in High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders

This study used an integrated approach to investigate the effects of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) extract as a functional dietary supplement with a high-fat diet. This approach examined insulin resistance, the dysfunction of adipose tissue, and liver steatosis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for the acute and chronic study, in addition to GS in different doses (100, 250 and 500[Formula: see text]mg/kg body weight). Their body composition changes, serum lipid and glucose parameters, adipose and liver tissue histology, and gene expression were measured. It was found that GS significantly suppressed the increase of body weight, serum levels of lipid, insulin and leptin, and adipose tissue, and liver inflammation. GS also demonstrated hypoglycemic effects due to the amylase inhibition activity. Our results support the existence of a relationship between the HFD induced insulin resistance, adipose dysfunction and liver steatosis. In conclusion, GS works as a functional dietary supplement with preventative effects against metabolic disorder.

A review on possible therapeutic targets to contain obesity: The role of phytochemicals

The prevalence and severity of obesity has increased markedly in recent decades making it a global public health concern. Since obesity is a potential risk factor in the development of hypertension, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, infertility, etc., it is no more viewed as a cosmetic issue. Currently, only a few FDA-approved anti-obesity drugs like Orlistat, Lorcaserin and Phentermine-topiramate are available in the market, but they have considerable side effects. On the other hand, bariatric surgery as an alternative is associated with high risk and expensive. In view of these there is a growing trend towards natural product-based drug intervention as one of the crucial strategies for management of obesity and related ailments. In Asian traditional medicine and Ayurvedic literature a good number of plant species have been used and quoted for possible lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects; however, many of them have not been evaluated rigorously for a definite recommendation and also lack adequate scientific validation. This review explores and updates on various plant species, their used parts, bioactive components and focuses multiple targets/pathways to contain obesity which may pave the way to develop novel and effective drugs. We also summarised different drugs in use to treat obesity and their current status. Nature is future promise of our wellbeing.

Evaluating the antidiabetic effects of Chinese herbal medicine: Xiao-Ke-An in 3T3-L1 cells and KKAy mice using both conventional and holistic omics approaches

BACKGROUND

Xiao-Ke-An (XKA) is a Chinese medicine widely used for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). It is composed of eight herbal medicines traditionally used for T2D, including Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Coptis chinensis Franch, etc. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antidiabetic effects of XKA with both conventional and holistic omics approaches.

METHODS

The antidiabetic effect of XKA was first investigated in 3T3-L1 cells to study the effect of XKA on adipogenesis in vitro. Oil Red O staining was performed to determine the lipid accumulation. The intracellular total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) contents in XKA treated 3T3-L1 cells were also evaluated. The therapeutic effects of XKA was further evaluated in KKAy mice with both conventional and holistic omics approaches. Body weight, fasting and non-fasting blood glucose, and oral glucose tolerance were measured during the experiment. At the time of sacrifice, serum was collected for the measurement of TG, TC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). The liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, heart and adipose tissues were harvested and weighted. The liver was used for further microarray experiment. Omics approaches were adopted to evaluate the holistic rebalancing effect of XKA at molecular network level.

RESULTS

XKA significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation, lowered the intracellular TC and TG contents in 3T3-L1 cells. XKA improved the glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism, ameliorated insulin resistance in KKAy mice. Furthermore, XKA also exhibited effective therapeutic effects by reversing the molecular T2D disease network from an unbalanced state.

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the antidiabetic effects of XKA with both conventional and holistic omics approaches, providing both phenotypic evidence and underlying action mechanisms for the clinical use of XKA treating T2D.