Investigation of Selected Medicinal Plants for Their Anti-Obesity Properties
Sıla Özlem Şener1, Eylül Cılız2, Berre Nur Öztekin2
1University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Gülhane Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Ankara, Türkiye.
Objectives:
Obesity, which is a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, is caused serious health problems and economic costs on a global scale. Nowadays, pancreatic lipase inhibitors that cause inhibition of lipid digestion and lipid absorption are one of the limited treatment approaches for obesity. Plant-derived secondary metabolites can be used for treating obesity. The aim of this study was to research the antiobesity potential of Amaranthus albus L. (Amaranthaceae), Helichrysum compactum Boiss. (Asteraceae), Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae), and Agrimonia eupatoria L. (Rosaceae).
Materials And Methods:
To detect the antiobesity potentials of the plants, in vitro lipase inhibitory activity studies by spectroscopic method and quantitative analysis studies of some anti-obesity effective secondary metabolites by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) technique were carried out.
Results:
In vitro lipase inhibitory studies showed that all plant extracts possess lipase inhibitory effect, and the highest lipase inhibitory potential was observed for H. compactum (IC50: 45.70 μg/mL ± 2.3618). According to HPLC analyses, p-coumaric acid (0.27 mg/g) in A. albus; benzoic acid (0.33 mg/g) in C. album; vanillic acid (7.32 mg/g), syringaldehyde (14.97 mg/g), quercetin (4.66 mg/g), p-coumaric acid (0.71 mg/g), and benzoic acid (3.43 mg/g) in H. compactum; p-coumaric acid (0.71 mg/g) and benzoic acid (3.43 mg/g) in A. eupatoria were detected.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, H. compactum is the most remarkable natural source for the study. The fact remains that all plants may be promising candidates for treating obesity.
Insights
Four plant extracts showed lipase inhibitory effects, with Helichrysum compactum demonstrating the highest potential for obesity treatment. These findings highlight natural sources for developing anti-obesity therapies.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Obesity is a global health concern and a risk factor for major diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
- Pancreatic lipase inhibitors are a limited therapeutic option for obesity, targeting lipid digestion and absorption.
- Plant-derived secondary metabolites offer a promising avenue for developing novel anti-obesity treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-obesity potential of four plant species: Amaranthus albus, Helichrysum compactum, Chenopodium album, and Agrimonia eupatoria.
- To evaluate the in vitro lipase inhibitory activity of these plant extracts.
- To quantify specific anti-obesity metabolites using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).
Main Methods:
- In vitro lipase inhibitory assays were performed using a spectroscopic method.
- Quantitative analysis of secondary metabolites was conducted using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).
- The study included extracts from Amaranthus albus, Helichrysum compactum, Chenopodium album, and Agrimonia eupatoria.
Main Results:
- All tested plant extracts exhibited lipase inhibitory activity.
- Helichrysum compactum displayed the most significant lipase inhibitory potential, with an IC50 value of 45.70 μg/mL.
- Key metabolites such as p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringaldehyde, and quercetin were quantified in the plant extracts.
Conclusions:
- Helichrysum compactum is identified as a particularly promising natural source for anti-obesity research.
- All investigated plants demonstrate potential as candidates for developing natural anti-obesity therapies.
- Further research into these plant-derived compounds could lead to new strategies for managing obesity.
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