Abstract
Plants that help in slowing down the digestion of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the pancreas and small intestine of humans play an important role in the reduction of obesity. On the other hand, there may be plants or plant parts that stimulate intestinal lipolytic activity, thus contributing to greater TAG assimilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous methanolic extracts of ninety eight (98) medicinal, herbal and aquatic plant materials from Malaysia for their effect on porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) activity and to identify the structure of an anti-lipase compound from one of the sources. The degree of inhibition was also quantified as relative to orlistat activity against PPL (orlistat equivalents). Results revealed that while 19.4% of the extracts were found to have anti-lipase activity ≥80%, 12% were actually found to promote PPL activity. Twenty two percent (22.4%) exhibited moderate inhibition (41%–80%) and 2% were neutral toward PPL activity. The ripe fruit of Averrhoa carambola and the leaves of Archidendron jiringa (Jack) I.C Nielsen L. (jering), Cynometra cauliflora (nam-nam) and Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd (candle nut/buah keras) had the highest (100%) anti-lipase activity and are equivalent to 0.11 µg orlistat/mL. Plants that stimulated lipase activity included Pimpinella anisum L. (aniseed/jintan manis), activating the enzyme by 186.5%. Kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of C. cauliflora leaves and found to be an active lipase inhibitor. The structure was elucidated using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 2D-NMR analyses.
Highlights
Obesity is defined in terms of body mass index (BMI), which is calculated as body weight divided by square of height, and it is mainly a result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [1].The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980 [2]
The anti-lipase activities are expressed as percent (%) inhibition relative to that of orlistat as this drug inhibits pancreatic lipase activity in the duodenum
This study shows that while many plants are capable of inhibiting lipase activity, and concur with many reports on anti-lipase plants, there are some those stimulate the activity of the enzyme
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980 [2]. In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults aged 20 or older were overweight, with women outnumbering men by 3:2. More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010 and in 2012 overweight and obesity represented the fifth leading risk for global deaths, with at least 2.8 million adult deaths. Many diseases such as hypertension, non-insulin dependent hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus and coronary heart diseases are attributable to overweight and obesity [2].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
