Inhibition of gastrointestinal lipolysis by green tea, coffee, and gomchui (Ligularia fischeri) tea polyphenols during simulated digestion

Caffeine: a potential mechanism for anti-obesity

Obesity refers to the excessive accumulation of fat caused by a long-term imbalance between energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). Over recent years, obesity has become a major public health challenge. Caffeine is a natural product that has been demonstrated to exert anti-obesity effects; however, the mechanisms responsible for the effect of caffeine on weight loss have yet to be fully elucidated. Most obesity-related deaths are due to cardiovascular disease. Recent research has demonstrated that caffeine can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease; thus, it can be hypothesized that caffeine may represent a new therapeutic agent for weight loss. In this review, we synthesize data arising from clinical and animal studies over the last decade and discuss the potential mechanisms by which caffeine may induce weight loss, focusing particularly on increasing energy consumption, suppressing appetite, altering lipid metabolism, and influencing the gut microbiota. Finally, we summarize the major challenges associated with caffeine and anti-obesity research and highlight possible directions for future research and development.

Unleashing the power of chlorogenic acid: exploring its potential in nutrition delivery and the food industry

In the contemporary era, heightened emphasis on health and safety has emerged as a paramount concern among individuals with food. The concepts of "natural" and "green" have progressively asserted dominance in the food consumption market. Consequently, through continuous exploration and development, an escalating array of natural bioactive ingredients is finding application in both nutrition delivery and the broader food industry. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in various plants in nature, has garnered significant attention. Abundant research underscores CGA's robust biological activity, showcasing notable preventive and therapeutic efficacy across diverse diseases. This article commences with a comprehensive overview, summarizing the dietary sources and primary biological activities of CGA. These encompass antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective activities. Next, a comprehensive overview of the current research on nutrient delivery systems incorporating CGA is provided. This exploration encompasses nanoparticle, liposome, hydrogel, and emulsion delivery systems. Additionally, the article explores the latest applications of CGA in the food industry. Serving as a cutting-edge theoretical foundation, this paper contributes to the design and development of CGA in the realms of nutrition delivery and the food industry. Finally, the article presents informed speculations and considerations for the future development of CGA.

The Impact of the Drying Process on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Dried Ripe Coffee Cherry Pulp Soluble Powder

Coffee fruit cascara, which is the skin and pulp of the coffee cherry, has been authorized as a novel food for commercialization in the European Union. The present research assessed the feasibility of using spray drying to produce a soluble powder called instant cascara (IC), employing sun-dried ripe coffee cherry pulp as a raw material. Although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the overall antioxidant capacity between the freeze-dried and spray-dried samples, after an in vitro simulation of the digestion process, the spray-dried sample was significantly (p < 0.05) more antioxidant. Both samples reduced physiological intracellular ROS and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the secretion of the pro-inflammatory factor NO. Alkaloids and phenolic compounds were detected in intestinal digests. In conclusion, spray drying is a good technique for producing IC as its use does not affect its properties and causes less environmental impact than freeze drying, as calculated by life cycle assessment. Sensory analysis did not show significant differences between the commercial beverage and the IC beverage in the adult population. IC at 10 mg/mL was significantly less accepted in adolescents than the commercial beverage. Future work will include the reformulation of the IC beverage at 10 mg/mL, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, to increase its hedonic acceptance in all consumer segments.

Methodologies for Assessing Pancreatic Lipase Catalytic Activity: A Review

Obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions with a concerning increasing trend. Regarded as one of the main sources of energy, lipids can also represent a big part of an unnecessary intake of calories and be, therefore, directly related to the problem of obesity. Pancreatic lipase is an enzyme that is essential in the absorption and digestion of dietary fats and has been explored as an alternative for the reduction of fat absorption and consequent weigh loss.Literature describes a great variability of methodologies and experimental conditions used in research to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory activity of compounds against pancreatic lipase. However, in an attempt to choose the best approach, it is necessary to know all the reaction conditions and understand how these can affect the enzymatic assay.The objective of this review is to understand and summarize the methodologies and respective experimental conditions that are mainly used to evaluate pancreatic lipase catalytic activity.156 studies were included in this work and a detailed description of the most commonly used UV/Vis spectrophotometric and fluorimetric instrumental techniques are presented, including a discussion regarding the differences found in the parameters used in both techniques, namely enzyme, substrate, buffer solutions, kinetics conditions, temperature and pH.This works shows that both UV/Vis spectrophotometry and fluorimetry are useful instrumental techniques for the evaluation of pancreatic lipase catalytic activity, presenting several advantages and limitations, which make the choice of parameters and experimental conditions a crucial decision to obtain the most reliable results.

Development of QSAR model using machine learning and molecular docking study of polyphenol derivatives against obesity as pancreatic lipase inhibitor

In developed countries and developing countries, obesity/overweight is considered a major problem, in fact, it is now recognized as a major metabolic disorder. Additionally, obesity is connected with other metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, etc. Therefore, the development of novel drugs/medications for obesity is essential. The best target for treating obesity is Pancreatic Lipase (PL), it breaks 50-70% triglycerides into monoglycerol and free fatty acids.The major aim of this in silico study is to generate a QSAR model by using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and to inhibit pancreatic lipase by polyphenol derivatives mainly flavonoids, plant secondary metabolites shows good inhibitory activity against PL, maybe with less unpleasant side effects.In this in silico study, a potent inhibitor was found through calculating drug likness, QSAR (Quantitative structure-activity relationship) and molecular docking. The docking was performed in Maestro 12.0 and the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties (drug-likeness) of compounds/ligands were predicted by the Qikprop module of Maestro 12.0. The QSAR model was developed to show the relationship between the chemical/structural properties and the compound's biological activity. We have found the best interaction between pancreatic lipase and flavonoids. The best docked compound is Epigallocatechin 3,5,-di-O-gallate with docking score -10.935 kcal/mol .All compounds also show drug-likeness activity.The developed model has satisfied all internal and external validation criteria and has square correlation coefficient (r2) 0.8649, which shows its predictive ability and has good acceptability, predictive ability, and statistical robustness.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Proanthocyanidins as the main pancreatic lipase inhibitors in chokeberry fruits

Pancreatic lipase inhibitors are recognized as important in strategies for the management of overweight and obesity. The phytocompounds in chokeberry fruit show multidirectional pro-health effects, including anti-obesity activity. The aims of this study were to fractionate and identify the phenolic compounds of chokeberry fruit phenolic-rich extract that are active as pancreatic lipase inhibitors. Phenolic compounds were fractionated using Sephadex LH-20 resin, followed by polyphenol profile analysis using chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods, while pancreatic inhibitory activity was determined using 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate and emulsified triolein as enzyme substrates. Among the six fractions isolated from extract, two fractions rich in highly polymerized proanthocyanidins showed the greatest ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase activity. In comparison, fractions containing mainly low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins, were 11-64 times less active. The most active fraction showed a mixed mode of pancreatic lipase inhibition, as determined by Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis, and exhibited a cumulative effect with orlistat. This study shows that black chokeberry polyphenols, particularly highly polymerized procyanidins, can effectively inhibit pancreatic lipase activity determined by in vitro methods.

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.

Using polyphenols as a relevant therapy to diabetes and its complications, a review

Diabetes is currently a worldwide health concern. Hyperglycemia, hypertension, obesity, and oxidative stress are the major risk factors that inevitably lead to all the complications from diabetes. These complications severely impact the quality of life of patients, and they can be managed, reduced, or even reverted by several polyphenols, plant extracts and foods rich in these compounds. The goal of this review is to approach diabetes not as a single condition but rather an interconnected combination of risk factors and complications. This work shows that polyphenols have multi target action and effects and they have been systematically proven to be relevant in the reduction of each risk factor and improvement of associated complication.

Data on the docking of phytoconstituents of betel plant and matcha green tea on SARS-CoV-2

Betel (Piper betle L.) and green tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) have been used for a long time as traditional medicine. The docking of phytoconstituents contained in the betel plant was evaluated against M^pro, and matcha green tea was evaluated against five target receptors of SARS-CoV-2 as follows: spike ectodomain structure (open state), receptor-binding domain (RDB), main protease (M^pro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), dan papain-like protease (PL^pro). The evaluation was carried out based on the value of binding-free energy and the types of interactions of the amino acids at the receptors that interact with the ligands.

Going "Green" in the Prevention and Management of Atherothrombotic Diseases: The Role of Dietary Polyphenols

During the 20th century processed and ready-to-eat foods became routinely consumed resulting in a sharp rise of fat, salt, and sugar intake in people's diets. Currently, the global incidence of obesity, raised blood lipids, hypertension, and diabetes in an increasingly aged population contributes to the rise of atherothrombotic events and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality. Drug-based therapies are valuable strategies to tackle and help manage the socio-economic impact of atherothrombotic disorders though not without adverse side effects. The inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids to human diets, as recommended by WHO offers a valuable nutritional strategy, alternative to drug-based therapies, to be explored in the prevention and management of atherothrombotic diseases at early stages. Though polyphenols are mostly associated to color and taste in foods, food flavonoids are emerging as modulators of cholesterol biosynthesis, appetite and food intake, blood pressure, platelet function, clot formation, and anti-inflammatory signaling, supporting the health-promoting effects of polyphenol-rich diets in mitigating the impact of risk factors in atherothrombotic disorders and CVD events. Here we overview the current knowledge on the effect of polyphenols particularly of flavonoid intake on the atherothrombotic risk factors and discuss the caveats and challenges involved with current experimental cell-based designs.

Green tea polyphenols ameliorate metabolic abnormalities and insulin resistance by enhancing insulin signalling in skeletal muscle of Zucker fatty rats

In the present study, we evaluated the metabolic effects of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) in high-fat diet (HFD) fed Zucker fatty (ZF) rats, in particular the effects of GTP on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Body weight, visceral fat, glucose tolerance, lipid profiles and whole-body insulin sensitivity were measured in HFD-fed ZF rats after 8-week-treatment with GTP (200 mg/kg of body weight) or saline (5 ml/kg of body weight). Zucker lean rats were studied as controls. Ex vivo insulin-mediated muscle glucose uptake was assessed. Immunoblotting was used to evaluate the expression of key insulin signalling proteins in skeletal muscle. GTP treatment attenuated weight gain (P<0.05) and visceral fat accumulation (27.6%, P<0.05), and significantly reduced fasting serum glucose (P<0.05) and insulin (P<0.01) levels. Homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), a measure of insulin resistance, was lower (P<0.01) in GTP-treated animals compared with ZF controls. Moreover, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by isolated soleus muscle was increased (P<0.05) in GTP-ZF rats compared with ZF-controls. GTP treatment attenuated the accumulation of ectopic lipids (triacyl- and diacyl-glycerols), enhanced the expression and translocation of glucose transporter-4, and decreased pSer612IRS-1 and increased pSer473Akt2 expression in skeletal muscle. These molecular changes were also associated with significantly decreased activation of the inhibitory (muscle-specific) protein kinase (PKC) isoform, PKC-θ. Taken together, the present study has shown that regular ingestion of GTP exerts a number of favourable metabolic and molecular effects in an established animal model of obesity and insulin resistance. The benefits of GTP are mediated in part by inhibiting PKC-θ and improving muscle insulin sensitivity.

Study of the In Vitro Digestion of Olive Oil Enriched or Not with Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds. Relationships between Bioaccessibility of Main Components of Different Oils and Their Composition

The changes provoked by in vitro digestion in the lipids of olive oil enriched or not with different phenolic compounds were studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and solid phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). These changes were compared with those provoked in the lipids of corn oil and of virgin flaxseed oil submitted to the same digestive conditions. Lipolysis and oxidation were the two reactions under consideration. The bioaccessibility of main and minor components of olive oil, of phenolic compounds added, and of compounds formed as consequence of the oxidation, if any, were matters of attention. Enrichment of olive oil with antioxidant phenolic compounds does not affect the extent of lipolysis, but reduces the oxidation degree to minimum values or avoids it almost entirely. The in vitro bioaccessibility of nutritional and bioactive compounds was greater in the olive oil digestate than in those of other oils, whereas that of compounds formed in oxidation was minimal, if any. Very close quantitative relationships were found between the composition of the oils in main components and their in vitro bioaccessibility. These relationships, some of which have predictive value, can help to design lipid diets for different nutritional purposes.

A Global Study by 1H NMR Spectroscopy and SPME-GC/MS of the in Vitro Digestion of Virgin Flaxseed Oil Enriched or not with Mono-, Di- or Tri-Phenolic Derivatives. Antioxidant Efficiency of These Compounds

The effect of enriching virgin flaxseed oil with dodecyl gallate, hydroxytyrosol acetate or gamma-tocopherol on its in vitro digestion is studied by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance and solid phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The extent and pattern of the lipolysis reached in each sample is analyzed, as is the bioaccessibility of the main oil components. None of the phenolic compounds provokes inhibition of the lipase activity and all of them reduce the lipid oxidation degree caused by the in vitro digestion and the bioaccessibility of oxidation compounds. The antioxidant efficiency of the three tested phenols is in line with the number of phenolic groups in its molecule, and is dose-dependent. The concentration of some minor oil components such as terpenes, sesquiterpenes, cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol is not modified by in vitro digestion. Contrarily, gamma-tocopherol shows very low in vitro bioaccessibility, probably due to its antioxidant behavior, although this increases with enrichment of the phenolic compounds. Oxidation is produced during in vitro digestion even in the presence of a high concentration of gamma-tocopherol, which remains bioaccessible after digestion in the enriched samples of this compound.

Targeting obesity with plant-derived pancreatic lipase inhibitors: A comprehensive review

The prevalence of obesity is alarmingly increasing in the last few decades and leading to many serious public health concerns worldwide. The dysregulated lipid homeostasis due to various genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors is considered one of the critical putative pathways mediating obesity. Nonetheless, the scientific advancements unleashing the molecular dynamics of lipid metabolism have provided deeper insights on the emerging roles of lipid hydrolysing enzymes, including pancreatic lipase. It is hypothesized that inhibiting pancreatic lipase would prevent the breakdown of triglyceride and delays the absorption of fatty acids into the systemic circulation and adipocytes. Whilst, orlistat is the only conventional pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibitor available in clinics, identifying the safe clinical alternatives from plants to inhibit pancreatic lipase has been considered a significant advancement. Consequently, plants which have shown significant potential to combat obesity are now revisited for its abilities to inhibit pancreatic lipase. In this regard, our review surveyed the potential of medicinal plants and its phytoconstituents to inhibit pancreatic lipase and to elicit anti-obesity effects. Thus, the review collate and critically appraise the potential of medicinal plants and phyto-molecules inhibiting pancreatic lipase enzyme and consequently modulating triglyceride absorption in gut, and discuss its implications in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat obesity.

Mitigation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat-fed mice by the combination of decaffeinated green tea extract and voluntary exercise

We have shown that combination treatment with decaffeinated green tea extract (GTE) and voluntary exercise (Ex) reduces obesity and insulin resistance in high-fat (HF)-fed mice to a greater extent than either treatment alone. Here, we investigated the effects of GTE-, Ex- or the combination on the development of obesity-related NAFLD. Male C57BL/6 J mice were treated for 16 weeks with HF diet (60% energy from fat), HF supplemented with 7.7 g GTE/kg, HF plus access to a voluntary running wheel, or the combination. We found that treatment of mice with the combination mitigated the development of HF-induced NAFLD to a greater extent than either treatment alone. Combination-treated mice had lower plasma alanine aminotransferase (92% lower) and hepatic lipid accumulation (80% lower) than HF-fed controls: the effect of the single treatments was less significant. Mitigation of NAFLD was associated with higher fecal lipid and nitrogen levels. Combination treated, but not singly treated mice, had higher hepatic expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis (sirtuin 1 [59%]; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α [42%]; nuclear respiratory factor 1 [38%]; and transcription factor B1, mitochondrial [89%]) compared to the HF-fed controls. GTE-, Ex-, and the combination-treatment groups also had higher hepatic expression of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and uptake, but the combination was not better than the single treatments. Our results suggest the combination of GTE and Ex can effectively mitigate NAFLD. Future studies should determine if the combination is additive or synergistic compared to the single treatments.

Anti-obesity effects of instant fermented teas in vitro and in mice with high-fat-diet-induced obesity

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder that is associated with higher risks of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Chinese dark tea is a fermented beverage with many biological effects and could be considered for the management of obesity. This study is aimed to assess the possible anti-obesity properties of instant dark tea (IDT) and instant pu-erh tea (PET) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups. They received low-fat diet (LFD), HFD, HFD supplemented with drinking IDT infusion (5 mg mL-1), PET infusion (5 mg mL-1) or water for 8 weeks. The results showed IDT exhibited better inhibitory effect than PET on body weight gain and visceral fat weights. IDT also improved the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, but decreased the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leptin levels more effectively than PET. Both IDT and PET lowered the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the plasma and significantly increased the ratio of albumin to globin (A/G) in the serum compared to the control group. IDT treatment reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver. Histomorphology evidenced that the liver tissue architecture was well preserved by IDT administration. Moreover, IDT regulated the expression of obesity-related genes more effectively than PET. Overall, the present findings have provided the proof of concept that dietary IDT could provide a safer and cost-effective option for people with HFD-induced obesity.

Efficacy of chalcone and xanthine derivatives on lipase inhibition: A systematic review

Losing weight has significant impact on chronic disease management. Orlistat, a lipase inhibitor, has alternative effect for weight controlling. To find more candidates, we conducted a review of chalcone and xanthine derivatives regarding their anti-lipase activity. Eight databases were searched including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), Virtual Health Library (VHL), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE), Global Health Library (GHL), EMBASE, and Google Scholar in August 2018. We found chalcone scaffold was more effective on lipase inhibition than xanthine scaffold. Among 19 investigated chalcones, only isoliquiritigenin and licuroside demonstrated an effect on preventing weight gain and increase in the total cholesterol and total triglycerides aside apart from their high activity on inhibiting lipase. Effect and type of inhibition of individual chalcones differed depending on their structure. In addition, very few studies investigated xanthine compounds and their activities were inconsistent. We suggest more studies investigate the ability of chalcones and modifying their structure to find out other compounds with higher efficacy.

Effects of honey-extracted polyphenols on serum antioxidant capacity and metabolic phenotype in rats

It is generally known that honey polyphenols have antioxidant capacity and numerous biological functions. However, their metabolic phenotype after digestion has not been studied. In this study, the effects of honey-extracted polyphenols (HEPs) on serum antioxidant capacity and metabolic phenotype were revealed for the first time. Herein, sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: one group was administered HEPs (200 mg per kilogram body weight dose) and the other group was fed distilled water three times. Then, 1 h after the last gavage, the metabolic profiling of serum was analyzed by UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS and multivariate statistical analysis, and the following results were obtained. At first, twenty-five metabolites, including polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids, were selected as potential biomarkers. Then, metabolic pathway analysis showed that several amino acid metabolism pathways, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism were affected. Association analysis demonstrated that the alteration of metabolites may be responsible for the increased serum antioxidant capacity. This new insight into the effects on the metabolic phenotype after HEP intake prompted the study on the biological functions and emerging health benefits of HEPs.

Ethanol Extract of Ligularia fischeri Inhibits the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response by Exerting Anti-Histone Acetyltransferase Activity to Negatively Regulate p65

Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity is well established to regulate inflammatory responses. In contrast, the mechanisms by which natural nutritional extracts influence epigenetic mechanisms to regulate inflammation have not yet been thoroughly investigated. Thus, in the present study, we observed that the anti-HAT activity exerted by an ethanol extract of Ligularia fischeri (ELF) inhibited inflammation. Specifically, we used a cell-free system to show that ELF attenuates HAT activity. We also demonstrated that ELF decreases lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HAT mRNA and protein expression levels in Raw 264.7 cells, and thereby attenuates inflammation-induced patterns of hyperacetylation at nonhistone and histone-H4 proteins. Interestingly, we found that ELF blocked p65 translocation in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells by attenuating acetylation at lysine residue 310 of p65. Finally, we investigated whether ELF reduces the inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, using its HAT inhibitor activity. Taken together, these results suggest that ELF negatively regulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting HATs and HAT activity.

The inhibitory effects of an eight-herb formula (RCM-107) on pancreatic lipase: enzymatic, HPTLC profiling and in silico approaches

Aims

Obesity is a global, public health issue that causes or exacerbates serious medical disorders. Chinese herbal therapies have become one of the most popular alternatives due to intolerances of current anti-obesity treatments. The RCM-107 formula (granule) is modified from our previous studied RCM-104 formula, which has demonstrated significant effects on weight reduction in randomized clinical trials. Up to date, there is no published scientific evidence to evaluate the effect of this formula on the weight-loss target pancreatic lipase and therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of RCM-107 and respective individual ingredient on the pancreatic lipase activities.

Main methods

Fluorometric based enzymatic assays, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) profiling and in silico molecular docking techniques were used to investigate the lipase inhibitory effects of the RCM-107 herbal formula and its respective individual herbs.

Principle findings

The results demonstrated the potent lipase suppressing effect of the RCM-107 formula. The majority of the ingredients from this formula also showed pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. The presence of the known weight-loss compounds such as (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), (-)-epicatechin (EC), rutin, crocin and caffeine were identified in the RCM-107 and related single herbs using HPTLC profiling approaches. In addition, EGCG, EC and the known lipase antagonist orlistat acted on the same site. These compounds form hydrogen bonds with corresponding residues HIS152, ASP80 and GLY77, which can be considered as markers of important areas in the ligand-binding site. This may explain the details of their roles in inhibiting pancreatic lipase activities.

Conclusion

Our data has provided new knowledge to the mechanistic properties of the RCM-107 formula and its respective individual herbal ingredients for weight loss, in terms of reducing lipid absorption via the inhibition of pancreatic lipase.

Mechanisms of action of coffee bioactive components on lipid metabolism

Coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes, which may be related to the effects of coffee and its bioactive components on lipid metabolism. Coffee contains caffeine, a known neuromodulator that acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist, as well as other components, such as chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, cafestol and kahweol. Thus, this review discusses the up-to-date knowledge of mechanisms of action of coffee and its bioactive compounds on lipid metabolism. Although there is evidence that coffee and/or its bioactive compounds regulate transcription factors (e.g. peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and sterol regulatory element binding proteins) and enzymes (e.g. AMP-activated protein kinase) involved in lipogenesis, lipid uptake, transport, fatty acid β-oxidation and/or lipolysis, needs for the understanding of coffee and its effects on lipid metabolism in humans remain to be answered.

Coffee prevents fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet by modulating pathways of the gut-liver axis

Coffee consumption is inversely associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A gap in the literature still exists concerning the intestinal mechanisms that are involved in the protective effect of coffee consumption towards NAFLD. In this study, twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups each receiving a standard diet, a high-fat diet (HFD) or an HFD plus decaffeinated coffee (HFD+COFFEE) for 12 weeks. Coffee supplementation reduced HFD-induced liver macrovesicular steatosis (P < 0·01) and serum cholesterol (P < 0·001), alanine aminotransferase and glucose (P < 0·05). Accordingly, liver PPAR- α (P < 0·05) and acyl-CoA oxidase-1 (P < 0·05) as well as duodenal ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily A1 (ABCA1) and subfamily G1 (ABCG1) (P < 0·05) mRNA expressions increased with coffee consumption. Compared with HFD animals, HFD+COFFEE mice had more undigested lipids in the caecal content and higher free fatty acid receptor-1 mRNA expression in the duodenum and colon. Furthermore, they showed an up-regulation of duodenal and colonic zonulin-1 (P < 0·05), duodenal claudin (P < 0·05) and duodenal peptide YY (P < 0·05) mRNA as well as a higher abundance of Alcaligenaceae in the faeces (P < 0·05). HFD+COFFEE mice had an energy intake comparable with HFD-fed mice but starting from the eighth intervention week they gained significantly less weight over time. Data altogether showed that coffee supplementation prevented HFD-induced NAFLD in mice by reducing hepatic fat deposition and metabolic derangement through modification of pathways underpinning liver fat oxidation, intestinal cholesterol efflux, energy metabolism and gut permeability. The hepatic and metabolic benefits induced by coffee were accompanied by changes in the gut microbiota.

Evaluation of the impact of different drying methods on the phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro digestion of green coffee beans

We investigated the effects of different drying methods (room temperature drying, heat pump drying, freeze drying, microwave vacuum drying [MVD], and combined microwave power vacuum drying) on the active ingredients of green coffee beans. We specifically focused on eleven phenolic acids, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation (LPO), and enzyme activity, and the bio-accessibility in vitro and bioavailability of phenolics and antioxidant activities were also evaluated. MVD-treated beans had the lowest PPO activity and the highest contents of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (1.39 g/100 g DW), 3-feruloylquinic acid (0.25 g/100 g DW), 4-feruloylquinic acid (0.25 g/100 g DW), 5-feruloylquinic acid (1.52 g/100 g DW), and TPC (5.98 g GAE/100 g DW), and the highest antioxidant activity. MVD was the least time-consuming (0.63 hr/kg) and energy-consuming (1.88 kwh/kg) method. Moreover, the strongest inhibition of LPO and α-glucosidase was observed in MVD-treated beans. Thus, MVD is suggested to be the most suitable drying technique for the preservation of phenolic compounds and bioactivities of green coffee beans.

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.

Antihyperglycemic and Antilipidemic Effects of the Ethanol Extract Mixture of Ligularia fischeri and Momordica charantia in Type II Diabetes-Mimicking Mice

The extract of the Momordica charantia fruit (MCE) is recognized as an alternative treatment for diabetes. The extract of Ligularia fischeri leaves (LFE) is traditionally used as a folk medicine for treating inflammatory diseases in Korea as well. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of MCE combined with LFE on antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic potentials. Based on the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect and promotion of adipocyte differentiation in the 3T3-L1 cell line, the MLM was prepared with MCE:LFE (8:2 weight:weight). MLM showed the synergistic effects in the promotion of the glucose uptake rate, suppression of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) mRNA expression, upregulation of an insulin receptor substrate and glucose transporter type-4 expression, and an increase in insulin-associated signaling in C2C12 cells. In addition, the efficacy of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonism and glucose uptake rate by MLM supplementation was significantly enhanced in vitro. Then, the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of MCE, LFE, and MLM at the dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day (n = 6 per each group) were determined in streptozotocin (STZ)-insulted mice fed an atherogenic diet (ATH) for 4 weeks. In addition, MLM (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, n = 5 per each group) was supplemented in ATH-fed db/db mice for 10 weeks. Compared with MCE or LFE alone, MLM supplementation led to a more significant reduction of glucose levels in both STZ/ATH and db/db/ATH mice as well as lowered lipid profiles in STZ/ATH mice. In addition, the stimulation of islet of Langerhans regeneration was more pronounced by MLM supplementation in both mice models. In conclusion, antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects were strengthened by the combined extracts of L. fischeri and M. charantia (MLM) in diabetes-mimicking mice.

Use of Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System and molecular graph based descriptors in prediction and design of pancreatic lipase inhibitors

Aim: The inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL) enzyme is the most explored strategy for the treatment of obesity. The present study describes the development of quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models for a diverse set of 293 PL inhibitors by means of the Monte Carlo optimization technique. Methodology & results: The hybrid optimal descriptors were used to build QSAR models with three subsets of three splits. The developed QSAR models were further validated with corresponding external sets. The best QSAR model has the following statistical particulars: R2 = 0.752, Q LOO 2 = 0 . 736 for the test set and R2 = 0.768, Q F 1 2 = 0 . 628 , Q F 2 2 = 0 . 621 for the validation set. Conclusion: The developed QSAR models were robust, stable and predictive and led to the design of novel PL inhibitors.

Green tea polyphenols ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through upregulating AMPK activation in high fat fed Zucker fatty rats

AIM

To investigate protective effects and molecular mechanisms of green tea polyphenols (GTP) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Zucker fatty (ZF) rats.

METHODS

Male ZF rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 2 wk then treated with GTP (200 mg/kg) or saline (5 mL/kg) for 8 wk, with Zucker lean rat as their control. At the end of experiment, serum and liver tissue were collected for measurement of metabolic parameters, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), inflammatory cytokines and hepatic triglyceride and liver histology. Immunoblotting was used to detect phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c).

RESULTS

Genetically obese ZF rats on a HFD presented with metabolic features of hepatic pathological changes comparable to human with NAFLD. GTP intervention decreased weight gain (10.1%, P = 0.052) and significantly lowered visceral fat (31.0%, P < 0.01). Compared with ZF-controls, GTP treatment significantly reduced fasting serum insulin, glucose and lipids levels. Reduction in serum ALT and AST levels (both P < 0.01) were observed in GTP-treated ZF rats. GTP treatment also attenuated the elevated TNFα and IL-6 in the circulation. The increased hepatic TG accumulation and cytoplasmic lipid droplet were attenuated by GTP treatment, associated with significantly increased expression of AMPK-Thr172 (P < 0.05) and phosphorylated ACC and SREBP1c (both P < 0.05), indicating diminished hepatic lipogenesis and triglycerides out flux from liver in GTP treated rats.

CONCLUSION

The protective effects of GTP against HFD-induced NAFLD in genetically obese ZF rats are positively correlated to reduction in hepatic lipogenesis through upregulating the AMPK pathway.

Monte Carlo method based QSAR modelling of natural lipase inhibitors using hybrid optimal descriptors

Obesity is one of the most provoking health burdens in the developed countries. One of the strategies to prevent obesity is the inhibition of pancreatic lipase enzyme. The aim of this study was to build QSAR models for natural lipase inhibitors by using the Monte Carlo method. The molecular structures were represented by the simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) notation and molecular graphs. Three sets - training, calibration and test set of three splits - were examined and validated. Statistical quality of all the described models was very good. The best QSAR model showed the following statistical parameters: r² = 0.864 and Q² = 0.836 for the test set and r² = 0.824 and Q² = 0.819 for the validation set. Structural attributes for increasing and decreasing the activity (expressed as pIC₅₀) were also defined. Using defined structural attributes, the design of new potential lipase inhibitors is also presented. Additionally, a molecular docking study was performed for the determination of binding modes of designed molecules.

Natural Products with Anti-obesity Effects and Different Mechanisms of Action

Obesity, a primary influence on health condition, causes numerous comorbidities and complications and, therefore, pharmacotherapy is considered a strategy for its treatment. However, the adverse effects of most chemical drugs targeting weight loss complicate their approval by regulatory authorities. Recently, interest has increased in the development of ingredients from natural sources with fewer adverse effects for preventing and ameliorating obesity. This review provides an overview of current anti-obesity drugs and natural products with anti-obesity properties as well as their mechanisms of action, which include interfering with nutrient absorption, decreasing adipogenesis, increasing energy expenditure (thermogenesis), appetite suppression, modifying intestinal microbiota composition, and increasing fecal fat excretion.

Antioxidant activity and nutrient release from polyphenol-enriched cheese in a simulated gastrointestinal environment

Polyphenol recovery during the in vitro intestinal digestion of cheese with tea extract.

Microspheres as carriers for lipase inhibitory substances to reduce dietary triglyceride absorption in mice

The present study intends to use microspheres as a delivery system of chlorogenic acid (CGA) to investigate the influences of CGA microspheres on dietary fat absorption and fecal triglyceride excretion in a mice model. Microspheres have an average particle size of about 53.3 μm. Results indicated that the microspheres were capable of gradually releasing the preloaded CGA into the surrounding medium. Their bioadhesive property might help prolong the gastrointestinal transit time in mice, and render a better mixing and contact between CGA and triglyceride. Consumption of CGA microspheres resulted in a significantly higher level of fecal triglyceride (119-144%) as compared with the corresponding control groups. A microsphere would be a desirable vehicle for CGA to improve its efficacy along the intestine.

Ligularia fischeri inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, invasion and tube formation through the inactivation of mitogenic signaling pathways and regulation of vascular endothelial cadherin distribution and matrix metalloproteinase expression

Ligularia fischeri (LF) has been used as an edible herb and traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases. In the present study, we report the effects and molecular mechanism of the ethanolic extract of LF on cell proliferation, invasion and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). LF-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation was accompanied by reduced expression of cell cycle-related proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and cyclins, leading to pRb hypophosphorylation and G1 phase cell cycle arrest. We also show that LF treatment inhibited cell invasion and tube formation in HUVECs. These anti-angiogenic activities of LF were associated with the inactivation of mitogenic signaling pathways, induction of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin distribution at cell-cell contacts and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the pharmacological functions and molecular mechanisms of LF in regulating endothelial cell fates, and support further development as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of angiogenesis-related disorders including cancer.