Abstract
Obesity has become a global health problem. Orlistat is currently approved as an anti-obesity drug. However, its gastrointestinal side effects may limit its use, and with an alarming increase in obesity percentage there is a need to find new anti-obesity drugs. One of the most common approaches in treating obesity is inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory activity of different polar solvent extracts of Pinus brutia bark against pancreatic lipase was measured using Para-nitrophenyl palmitate as a substrate. The ethanol extract showed the best anti-lipase activity with IC50 value of 0.07 mg/ml and was better than Orlistat. The anti-obesity activity of this extract was evaluated in vivo using high-fat diet induced obesity in wistar rats. Oral treatments with ethanol extract for 6 weeks precluded the increase in rats body weight and serum triglyceridesin in Pinus group similar to Orlistat group (positive control). Moreover, the adiposity index in Pinus group was similar to Orlistat group (p>0.05). However, the reduction in total cholesterol levels in Orlistat group was better than that in Pinus group (p=0.02). This study showed that ethanol extract of Pinus brutia bark may be useful as a natural anti-obesity agent. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of bark extract on triglycerides and obesity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
