Screening of six Ayurvedic medicinal plants for anti-obesity potential: An investigation on bioactive constituents from Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz bark

The mysteries of pharmacokinetics and in vivo metabolism of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz: A new perspective from MSOP method

The pharmacological effects of flavonoids in Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz against inflammation, bacterial, and oxidation have been well-documented. Additionally, it is commonly consumed as tea. However, the in vivo mechanism of its main compounds has not been well elucidated. In this study, a highly selective and sensitive UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS method combined with Mass Spectrum-based Orthogonal Projection (MSOP) theory and four-step analytical strategy was established and validated to identify metabolites in rats following oral administration Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract. Furthermore, a sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the first time to analyze the pharmacokinetics of ten main flavonoids in rats. Notably, a total of 47 metabolites were identified in blood, bile, urine, and feces samples. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) values for oroxin A, oroxin B, baicalin, chrysin, baicalein, scutellarein, apigenin, quercetin oroxylin A and isorhamnetin were 2945.1 ± 11.23 ng/mL, 3123.9 ± 16.37 ng/mL, 130.40 ± 27.52 ng/mL, 117.20 ± 28.54 ng/mL, 64.12 ± 19.33 ng/mL, 97.22 ± 24.27 ng/mL, 145.22 ± 29.92 ng/mL, 45.19 ± 18.84 ng/mL, 67.32 ± 15.78 ng/mL and 128.44 ± 26.42 ng/mL. A double peak was observed in the drug-time curve of apigenin, due to enterohepatic recirculation. This study demonstrated that MSOP method provided more technical support for the identification of flavonoid metabolites in complex system than traditional methods.

Organic vegetable juice supplement alleviates hyperlipidemia in diet-induced obese mice and modulates microbial community in continuous colon simulation system

In this study, we investigated the effects of organic vegetable juice (OVJ) supplementation on modulating the microbial community, and how its consumption ameliorated blood-lipid profiles in diet-induced obese mice. Here, we studied the alleviating effect of hyperlipidemia via animal experiments using diet-induced obese mice and analyzed the effect of OVJ on the microbial community in continuous colon simulation system. OVJ consumption did not have a significant effect on weight loss but helped reduce the weight of the epididymis fat tissue and adipocytes. Additionally, blood-lipid profiles, such as triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose, were improved in the OVJ-fed group. Expression levels of genes related to lipid synthesis, including SREBP-1, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS, were significantly decreased. In addition, OVJ treatment significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. OVJ supplement influenced intestinal bacterial composition from phylum to genus level, including decreased Proteobacteria in the ascending colon in the phylum. At the family level, Akkermansia, which are associated with obesity, were significantly augmented in the transverse colon and descending colon compared to the control juice group. In addition, treatment with OVJ affected predicted lipid-metabolism-function genes related to lipid synthesis. These results suggest that OVJ supplementation may modulate gut microbial community and reduce the potential symptom of hyperlipidemia in diet-obese mice.

Chrysin improves diabetic nephropathy by regulating the AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism in HFD/STZ-induced DN mice

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a highly prevalent and severe diabetic complication. It is urgent to explore high efficiency and minor side effects therapy for DN. Chrysin is a natural flavonoid with various biological activities found in honey and propolis, and has considerable potential to improve DN. The study was designed to explore the effects and the specific underlying mechanism of chrysin for DN in high-fat-diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN mice. Firstly, the study revealed that chrysin effectively improved obesity, insulin resistance (IR), renal function, and pathological injury in DN mice. Secondly, the study found that chrysin improved the key indices and markers of lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation which are closely related to the development or progression of DN. Moreover, chrysin markedly modulated lipid metabolism by regulating Adenosine 5' monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and essential downstream proteins. Furthermore, AMPK inhibitor (Dorsomorphin) intervention partially suppressed the positive effects of chrysin on all testing indicators, indicating that activated AMPK is crucial for chrysin action on DN. The present study demonstrated that chrysin may improve DN by regulating lipid metabolism, and activated AMPK plays a critical role in the regulation of chrysin. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The study verified the positive effects of chrysin on obesity, insulin resistance, kidney injury, renal function, lipid accumulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which are closely related to the development or progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Moreover, we explored that chrysin improves DN by regulating AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the AMPK inhibitor was used to confirm that activated AMPK plays a critical role in the effects of chrysin. These results could offer a full explanation and a potential option for adjuvant therapy of DN diabetes with chrysin.

Modulation of diverse oncogenic signaling pathways by oroxylin A: An important strategy for both cancer prevention and treatment

BACKGROUND

Regardless of major advances in diagnosis, prevention and treatment strategies, cancer is still a foreboding cause due to factors like chemoresistance, radioresistance, adverse side effects and cancer recurrence. Therefore, continuous development of unconventional approaches is a prerequisite to overcome foregoing glitches. Natural products have found their way into treatment of serious health conditions, including cancer since ancient times. The compound oroxylin A (OA) is one among those with enormous potential against different malignancies. It is a flavonoid obtained from the several plants such as Oroxylum indicum, Scutellaria baicalensis and S. lateriflora, Anchietea pyrifolia, and Aster himalaicus.

PURPOSE

The main purpose of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the anticancerous effects of OA against various malignancies and unravel their chemosensitization and radiosensitization potential. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of OA have also been investigated.

METHOD

The literature on antineoplastic effects of OA was searched in PubMed and Scopus, including in vitro and in vivo studies and is summarized based on a systematic review protocol prepared according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The term "oroxylin A" was used in combination with "cancer" and all the title, abstracts and keywords appeared were considered.

RESULTS

In Scopus, a total of 157 articles appeared out of which 103 articles that did not meet the eligibility criteria were eliminated and 54 were critically evaluated. In PubMed, from the 85 results obtained, 26 articles were eliminated and 59 were included in the preparation of this review. Mounting number of studies have illustrated the anticancer effects of OA, and its mechanism of action.

CONCLUSION

OA is a promising natural flavonoid possessing wide range of pleiotropic properties and is a potential anticancer agent. It has a great potential in the treatment of multiple cancers including brain, breast, cervical, colon, esophageal, gall bladder, gastric, hematological, liver, lung, oral, ovarian, pancreatic and skin. However, lack of pharmacokinetic studies, toxicity assessments, and dose standardization studies and adverse effects limit the optimization of this compound as a therapeutic agent.

Oroxylin A: A Promising Flavonoid for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

There have been magnificent advancements in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases over the past several years, but these diseases continue to be a considerable cause of death worldwide. Most of the approved medications available for the prevention and treatment of these diseases target only a single gene/protein/pathway and are known to cause severe side effects and are less effective than they are anticipated. Consequently, the development of finer therapeutics that outshine the existing ones is far-reaching. Natural compounds have enormous applications in curbing several disastrous and fatal diseases. Oroxylin A (OA) is a flavonoid obtained from the plants Oroxylum indicum, Scutellaria baicalensis, and S. lateriflora, which have distinctive pharmacological properties. OA modulates the important signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, PTEN/PI3K/Akt, and signaling molecules, such as TNF-α, TGF-ꞵ, MMPs, VEGF, interleukins, Bcl-2, caspases, HIF-1α, EMT proteins, Nrf-2, etc., which play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanism of chronic diseases. Overwhelming pieces of evidence expound on the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-cancer potentials of this flavonoid, which makes it an engrossing compound for research. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies also displayed the promising potential of OA against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. Therefore, the current review focuses on delineating the role of OA in combating different chronic diseases and highlighting the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of its action.

Antiobesity Potential of Bioactive Constituents from Dichloromethane Extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds

Purpose

Effectively controlling the accumulation of adipose tissue can be a therapeutic strategy for treating obesity, which is a global problem. The present study was designed for comparative assessment of in vitro antiobesity activities of the Psoralea corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and the isolated phytochemicals, bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen, through antiadipogenesis and pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibition assays. Material and Methods. In vitro pancreatic lipase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB) to p-nitrophenol at 405 nm, and adipogenesis was assayed in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes (by using Oil Red O staining) using P. corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and individual compounds, isolated from the extract.

Result

Antilipase as well as antiadipogenesis activity was displayed by both the DCME and the compounds. Maximum antilipase property was recorded in DCME (26.02 ± .041%) at 100 μg/ml, while, among the isolated compounds, bakuchiol exhibited a higher activity (24.2 ± 0.037%) at 100 μg/ml concentration, compared to other isolates. DCME was found to exhibit antiadipogenesis property, 75 ± 0.003% lipid accumulation, compared to the control at 100 μg/ml dose. Bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen inhibited the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 78.06 ± 0.002%, 80.91 ± 0.004%, and 80.91 ± 0.001%, respectively, lipid accumulation in comparison to control at 25 μM dose.

Conclusion

The present study highlights the antiobesity potential of P. corylifolia and its active constituents. Thus, it can be concluded that P. corylifolia has the potential to treat obesity and related diseases; however, further research on dose standardization and clinical trials are required.

Baicalein inhibits macrophage lipid accumulation and inflammatory response by activating the PPARγ/LXRα pathway

Lipid accumulation and inflammatory response are two major risk factors for atherosclerosis. Baicalein, a phenolic flavonoid widely used in East Asian countries, possesses a potential atheroprotective activity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study was performed to explore the impact of baicalein on lipid accumulation and inflammatory response in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. Our results showed that baicalein up-regulated the expression of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ABCG1, liver X receptor α (LXRα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), promoted cholesterol efflux, and inhibited lipid accumulation. Administration of baicalein also reduced the expression and secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Knockdown of LXRα or PPARγ with siRNAs abrogated the effects of baicalein on ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression, cholesterol efflux, lipid accumulation as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine release. In summary, these findings suggest that baicalein exerts a beneficial effect on macrophage lipid accumulation and inflammatory response by activating the PPARγ/LXRα signaling pathway.

Natural Dietary and Medicinal Plants with Anti-Obesity Therapeutics Activities for Treatment and Prevention of Obesity during Lock Down and in Post-COVID-19 Era

Overweight and obesity have become global epidemics, especially during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of medicinal plants as a better and safe option in treating obesity and overweight has gained attention in recent years. Obesity and overweight has become a major public health concern, and its incidence rising at an alarming rate. Obesity is one of the major types of metabolic syndrome, resulting in various types of problems such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and excess fat accumulation. The current searching was done by the keywords in main indexing systems including Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, the search engine of Google Scholar, and Institute for Scientific Web of Science. The keywords were traditional medicine, health benefits, pharmaceutical science, pomegranate, punicalin, punicalagin, and ellagitannins. Google Scholar was searched manually for possible missing manuscripts, and there was no language restriction in the search. This review was carried out to highlight the importance of medicinal plants which are common in traditional medicinal sciences of different countries, especially Asia to prevent and treatment of obesity and overweight during the global pandemic and the post-COVID-19 era.

Pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of Bambusa multiplex cv. Fernleaf leaf extract in vitro and in vivo

Bambusa multiplex cv Fernleaf (B. multiplex) is a species of bamboo. In the present study, B. multiplex leaf extract was prepared through the resin absorption/desorption procedure and analyzed by HPLC. C-Glycosyl flavonoids are the main constituents of B. multiplex extract, and the content of isoorientin and vitexin was 51.8 and 23.1 mg g^-1, respectively. Besides, the extract exhibited inhibitory activities on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 0.91 and 1.16 mg mL^-1, respectively. The extract could bind to pancreatic lipase and showed mixed-type inhibition. An in vivo study showed that pre-administration of B. multiplex extract significantly reduced the fat absorption in rats and increased fat excretion through feces. The change in the C-glycosyl flavonoid content in feces was the same as that in the triglyceride content. The inhibitory activity of B. multiplex leaf extract on pancreatic lipase was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo.

South Africa's Best BARK Medicines Prescribed at the Johannesburg Muthi Markets for Skin, Gut, and Lung Infections: MIC's and Brine Shrimp Lethality

Indigenous trade of medicinal plants in South Africa is a multi-million-rand industry and is still highly relevant in terms of primary health care. The purpose of this study was to identify today's most traded medicinal barks, traditionally and contemporaneously used for dermatological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tract infections; then, to investigate the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of the respective extracts and interpret outcomes in light of pharmacokinetics. Thirty-one popularly traded medicinal barks were purchased from the Faraday and Kwa Mai-Mai markets in Johannesburg, South Africa. Information on the medicinal uses of bark-based medicines in modern commerce was recorded from randomly selected traders. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was used for antimicrobial screening, and brine shrimp lethality was used to determine toxicity. New medicinal uses were recorded for 14 bark species. Plants demonstrating some broad-spectrum activities against tested bacteria include Elaeodendron transvaalense, Erythrina lysistemon, Garcinia livingstonei, Pterocelastrus rostratus, Rapanea melanophloeos, Schotia brachypetala, Sclerocarya birrea, and Ziziphus mucronata. The lowest MIC value of 0.004 mg/mL was observed against Staphylococcus epidermidis for a dichloromethane bark extract of E. lysistemon. The tested medicinal barks were shown to be non-toxic against the Artemia nauplii (brine shrimp) bioassay, except for a methanol extract from Trichilia emetica (69.52% mortality). Bacterial inhibition of bark extracts with minimal associated toxicity is consistent with the safety and valuable use of medicinal barks for local muthi market customers. Antimicrobial outcomes against skin and gastrointestinal pathogens are feasible because mere contact-inhibition is required in vivo; however, MIC values against respiratory pathogens require further explaining from a pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics perspective, particularly for ingested rather than smoked therapies.

A Review on Obesity Management through Natural Compounds and a Green Nanomedicine-Based Approach

Obesity is a serious health complication in almost every corner of the world. Excessive weight gain results in the onset of several other health issues such as type II diabetes, cancer, respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis), and cardiovascular diseases. As allopathic medications and derived pharmaceuticals are partially successful in overcoming this health complication, there is an incessant need to develop new alternative anti-obesity strategies with long term efficacy and less side effects. Plants harbor secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids and other specific compounds that have been shown to have effective anti-obesity properties. Nanoencapsulation of these secondary metabolites enhances the anti-obesity efficacy of these natural compounds due to their speculated property of target specificity and enhanced efficiency. These nanoencapsulated and naive secondary metabolites show anti-obesity properties mainly by inhibiting the lipid and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, suppression of adipogenesis and appetite, and enhancing energy metabolism. This review focuses on the plants and their secondary metabolites, along with their nanoencapsulation, that have anti-obesity effects, with their possible acting mechanisms, for better human health.

A Review on the Medicinal and Pharmacological Properties of Traditional Ethnomedicinal Plant Sonapatha, Oroxylum indicum

Oroxylum indicum, Sonapatha is traditionally used to treat asthma, biliousness, bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery, fevers, vomiting, inflammation, leukoderma, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, wound injury, and deworm intestine. This review has been written by collecting the relevant information from published material on various ethnomedicinal and pharmacological aspects of Sonapatha by making an internet, PubMed, SciFinder, Science direct, and Google Scholar search. Various experimental studies have shown that Sonapatha scavenges different free radicals and possesses alkaloids, flavonoids, cardio glycosides, tannins, sterols, phenols, saponins, and other phytochemicals. Numerous active principles including oroxylin A, chrysin, scutellarin, baicalein, and many more have been isolated from the different parts of Sonapatha. Sonapatha acts against microbial infection, cancer, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and diabetic disorders. It is useful in the treatment of obesity and wound healing in in vitro and in vivo preclinical models. Sonapatha elevates glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels and reduces aspartate transaminase alanine aminotransaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxidation levels in various tissues. Sonapatha activates the expression of p53, pRb, Fas, FasL, IL-12, and caspases and inhibited nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin (IL6), P38 activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1c (SREBP-1c), proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), glucose transporter (GLUT4), leptin, and HPV18 oncoproteins E6 and E7 at the molecular level, which may be responsible for its medicinal properties. The phytoconstituents of Sonapatha including oroxylin A, chrysin, and baicalein inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in in vitro and in vivo experimental models, indicating its potential to contain COVID-19 infection in humans. The experimental studies in various preclinical models validate the use of Sonapatha in ethnomedicine and Ayurveda.

Oroxylum indicum extract, at a physiologically relevant dosage, does not induce hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice

Background

Botanical supplements have been proven to provide beneficial health effects. However, they can induce unintended adverse events such as hepatotoxicity. Oroxylum indicum extract (OIE, Sabroxy®) has several health benefits including anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antifungal, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects. It is currently unknown whether OIE has the potential to induce hepatotoxicity.

Purpose

In the current study, we sought to determine whether OIE can induce hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mouse model.

Methods

The male mice were fed powdered rodent food (control group) or powdered rodent food mixed with OIE (Sabroxy®, 500mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks. Following the treatment, we assessed liver histology and serum levels of biomarkers commonly associated with liver damage, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Results

No significant alterations were observed in liver histology, and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, albumin, globulin and total protein in the OIE fed mice compared to the control mice.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results suggest that OIE, when fed at its physiologically relevant dosage, does not induce hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.

Lesser Investigated Natural Ingredients for the Management of Obesity

Obesity, an epidemiological disorder, is related to various complications in both the developed and developing world. It epitomizes a crucial risk factor for health, decreasing productivity and life expectancy while increasing health care costs worldwide. Conventional therapies with synthetic drugs or bariatric surgery, associated with numerous side effects, recurrence, and surgical complexity, have been restricted in their use. Lifestyle changes and dietary restrictions are the proven methods for successful weight loss, although maintaining a strict lifestyle is a challenge. Multiple natural products have been explored for weight management with varied efficacy. The current review explores less explored natural herbs, their active constituents, and their mechanisms of action against obesity.

The Biological Activities and Therapeutic Potentials of Baicalein Extracted from Oroxylum indicum: A Systematic Review

In Southeast Asia, traditional medicine has a longestablished history and plays an important role in the health care system. Various traditional medicinal plants have been used to treat diseases since ancient times and much of this traditional knowledge remains preserved today. Oroxylum indicum (beko plant) is one of the medicinal herb plants that is widely distributed throughout Asia. It is a versatile plant and almost every part of the plant is reported to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. Many of the important bioactivities of this medicinal plant is related to the most abundant bioactive constituent found in this plant-the baicalein. Nonetheless, there is still no systematic review to report and vindicate the biological activities and therapeutic potential of baicalein extracted from O. indicum to treat human diseases. In this review, we aimed to systematically present in vivo and in vitro studies searched from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar database up to 31 March 2020 based on keywords "Oroxylum indicum" and "baicalein". After an initial screening of titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text analysis and validation, 20 articles that fulfilled all the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this systematic review. The searched data comprehensively reported the biological activities and therapeutic potential of baicalein originating from the O. indicum plant for anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-hyperglycemia, neurogenesis, cardioprotective, anti-adipogenesis, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Nonetheless, we noticed that there was a scarcity of evidence on the efficacy of this natural active compound in human clinical studies. In conclusion, this systematic review article provides new insight into O. indicum and its active constituent baicalein as a prospective complementary therapy from the perspective of modern and scientific aspect. We indicate the potential of this natural product to be developed into more conscientious and judicious evidencebased medicine in the future. However, we also recommend more clinical research to confirm the efficacy and safety of baicalein as therapeutic medicine for patients.

Baicalin and its aglycone: a novel approach for treatment of metabolic disorders

BACKGROUND

The current strategies for prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are not fully effective and frequently accompanied by many negative effects. Therefore, novel ways to prevent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are urgently needed. The roots of Scutellaria radix are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicines for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dysentery, and other respiratory disorders. Baicalin and baicalein are the major and active ingredient extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis.

METHODS

A comprehensive and systematic review of literature on baicalin and baicalein was carried out.

RESULTS

Emerging evidence indicated that baicalin and baicalein possessed hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-dyslipidemic, anti-lipogenic, anti-obese, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects, being effective for treating obesity, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and dyslipidemia. Besides, baicalin and baicalein are almost non-toxic to epithelial, peripheral, and myeloid cells.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this study is to focus on the therapeutic applications and accompanying molecular mechanisms of baicalin and baicalein against hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver, and trying to establish a novel anti-obese and anti-diabetic strategy.

Plant Extracts and Reactive Oxygen Species as Two Counteracting Agents with Anti- and Pro-Obesity Properties

Obesity is a complex disease of great public health significance worldwide: It entails several complications including diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular dysfunction and hypertension, and its prevalence is increasing around the world. The pathogenesis of obesity is closely related to reactive oxygen species. The role of reactive oxygen species as regulatory factors in mitochondrial activity in obese subjects, molecules taking part in inflammation processes linked to excessive size and number of adipocytes, and as agents governing the energy balance in hypothalamus neurons has been examined. Phytotherapy is the traditional form of treating health problems using plant-derived medications. Some plant extracts are known to act as anti-obesity agents and have been screened in in vitro models based on the inhibition of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and activity of pancreatic lipase methods and in in vivo high-fat diet-induced obesity rat/mouse models and human models. Plant products may be a good natural alternative for weight management and a source of numerous biologically-active chemicals, including antioxidant polyphenols that can counteract the oxidative stress associated with obesity. This review presents polyphenols as natural complementary therapy, and a good nutritional strategy, for treating obesity without serious side effects.

Chrysin mitigated obesity by regulating energy intake and expenditure in rats

Background and aim

Chrysin is a flavonoid found in plant extracts from Passiflora species, honey and propolis. It has demonstrated anti-adipogenic activity in vitro but there are no studies substantiating the anti-obesity activity of chrysin in vivo.

Experimental procedure

The pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory potential of chrysin was determined by preliminary in silico screening and further confirmed by in vitro PL inhibitory assay and oral fat tolerance test (OFTT). The effect of chrysin on acute feed intake and sucrose preference test was determined in normal rats. Obesity was induced by feeding of high fructose diet (HFD) to the rats. The rats were divided into six groups: normal control, HFD control, orlistat and three doses of chrysin (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference/thoracic circumference (AC/TC) ratio, calorie intake, adiposity index, fecal cholesterol, locomotor activity and histopathology of the adipose tissue of the rats were evaluated.

Results

Chrysin showed good affinity to PL with competitive type of inhibition. It significantly reduced serum triglycerides in OFTT. Chrysin also significantly reduced acute feed intake and sucrose preference in rats. Chrysin significantly decreased the body weight, BMI, AC/TC ratio, adiposity index, calorie intake while it significantly increased the fecal cholesterol and locomotor activity of the rats. Chrysin was found to reduce the size of the adipocytes when compared to the HFD control group.

Conclusion

Thus, chrysin exerted anti-obesity effect by inhibiting PL, reducing sucrose preference, reducing calorie intake and increasing the locomotor activity of rats.

Ethnopharmacological Inspections of Organic Extract of Oroxylum indicum in Rat Models: A Promising Natural Gift

The stem bark of Oroxylum indicum (O. indicum) was aimed at testing for anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative, antihyperglycemic, and antidyslipidemic activities. Liver enzyme concentration (SGPT, SGOT) had also been assessed. After being extracted in organic solvent, 3 distinct doses, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.), were used. For edema formation 0.1 ml carrageenan at a dose of 1% w/v was injected into paw of left hind. It showed a fall of edemas 37.50%, 48.34%, and 55.83% while used doses were 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.) individually. The EtOH extract of O. indicum (50%) and its fractions PET, CLF, EtOAc, and nBUT were studied against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Only PET and n-BuOH exhibited the highest percentage of protection and were 96% and 99%, respectively, persuaded by ethanol. In OGTT glibenclamide revealed reduction of glucose level to 7.55 ± 0.22 mmol/L from 10.57 ± 0.32 mmol/L after 30 minutes. Antihyperglycemic activities were assessed for 8- and 12-week duration in diabetic rats. Glibenclamide reduced glucose level from 33.50±0.31 to 7.90±0.19 mmol/L in 12 weeks. In 12 and 8 weeks, combination therapy lowered blood glucose level to a normal extent by 79% and 61% individually. In antidyslipidemic activities after 12-week treatment, it revealed simvastatin; MEOI (400 mg/kg b.w.) and combination of both reduced TC level by 44%, 28%, and 48% consequently followed by TG and LDL. In 8-week treatment, HDL levels were increased by 34%, 13%, and 36%, and in 12 weeks increased by 36%, 8%, and 38% consequently. Liver enzyme concentration after 12 weeks of treatment with glibenclamide, 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.) of MEOI and combination of both, exhibited the fact that concentration of SGPT showed downturn by 43.23%, 8.01%, and 54.86% and SGOT by 42.40%, 5.31%, and 44.85%. This study remarked that O. indicum has anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antidiabetic, and antidyslipidemic potentials but has no ameliorative effect on liver enzyme.

Natural anti-obesity agents and their therapeutic role in management of obesity: A future trend perspective

In the present scenario, obesity is a challenging health problem and its prevalence along with comorbidities are on the rise around the world. According to world health organization and organisation for economic co-operation and development epidemiology reports, overweight and obesity are the fifth foremost causes of deaths globally. The increasing rate of obesity is becoming a mammoth problem which enormously affects an individual's quality of life. The conventional therapy of obesity mainly involves synthetic moieties and surgical procedures, which has many harmful side effects and chances of recurrence with severity. Hence, the Present review is a metanalysis of all the available data on the use of the plants with their biological source, active phytochemical constituents and a probable mechanism of action as natural anti-obesity agents. The metanalysis of data during the period of 2000-2018 was performed with the help of scientific data search engine National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PubMed). This data reveals the need and scope of further research in the development of new natural phytoconstituents for the management of obesity.

Plumbagin exerts antiobesity effects through inhibition of pancreatic lipase and adipocyte differentiation

Plumbagin is a naphthoquinone found in the roots of Plumbago zeylanica. Here, we report an investigation to evaluate its antiobesity activity. The preliminary binding affinity of plumbagin to human pancreatic lipase (PL) was determined using molecular docking simulation. The in vitro PL inhibitory potential and the kinetics of inhibition were studied to validate and confirm the results obtained from molecular docking. The IC₅₀ for PL was found to be 82.08 ± 9.47 μM, and the kinetics of inhibition was found to be of the mixed type. Further, the in vivo evaluation revealed that rats treated with plumbagin 1 mg/kg showed significant decrease in serum triglycerides (TG) and area under the curve of serum TG when compared with vehicle-treated rats. It was also seen that plumbagin possessed significant antiadipogenic effect as demonstrated by reduced oil red O staining and decreased TG contents. Thus, we conclude that plumbagin is a promising molecule to combat obesity and further optimization of plumbagin to yield plumbagin analogues will result in its improved activity profile.