Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Mcfad.) and its phytochemical inhibits pancreatic lipase enzyme and modulates the saturated fat-induced obesity model

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has reached epidemic proportions and warrants numerous interventions, mostly using functional foods or medicinal plants to combating obesity. This review focuses on medicinal plants that elicit anti-obesity effect targeting pancreatic lipase enzyme (PLE). However, the putative processes of the plants targeting PLE and its consequential effects on triglyceride breakdown remains elusive. The effect of aqueous methanolic extracts, fractions and isolates of selected plants on PLE was tested in-vitro. The potent plant extract was examined for its effect on triglyceride levels in rats administered using saturated fat-rich coconut milk versus non-fat milk model in-vivo. Our observations illustrates that the Citrus paradisi aqueous methanolic extract (CPAME) inhibits PLE and modulate the saturated fat-induced weight gain and triglyceride levels. Whilst, the hesperidin isolated from CPAME has shown potential to inhibit PLE, the observations warrant further investigations on flavonoid and other compounds in grape fruit. Therefore, CPAME could be a promising target in combating obesity by inhibiting PLE.