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Metabolites Jul 2023White, green, and oolong teas are produced from the tea plant ( (L.) Kuntze) and are reported to have anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects. The current study aims to...
Anti-Obesity Effect of a Tea Mixture Nano-Formulation on Rats Occurs via the Upregulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase/Sirtuin-1/Glucose Transporter Type 4 and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Pathways.
White, green, and oolong teas are produced from the tea plant ( (L.) Kuntze) and are reported to have anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects. The current study aims to investigate the anti-obesity effects of a tea mixture nano-formulation by targeting the AMPK/Sirt-1/GLUT-4 axis in rats. In vitro lipase and -amylase inhibition assays were used to determine the active sample, which was then incorporated into a nanoparticle formulation subjected to in vivo anti-obesity testing in rats by measuring the expression level of different genes implicated in adipogenesis and inflammation using qRT-PCR. Moreover, metabolomic analysis was performed for each tea extract using LC/ESI MS/MS coupled to chemometrics in an attempt to find a correlation between the constituents of the extracts and their biological activity. The in vitro pancreatic lipase and -amylase inhibition assays demonstrated more effective activity in the tea mixture than the standards, orlistat and acarbose, respectively, and each tea alone. Thus, the herbal tea mixture and its nanoparticle formulation were evaluated for their in vivo anti-obesity activity. Intriguingly, the tea mixture significantly decreased the serum levels of glucose and triglycerides and increased the mRNA expression of GLUT-4, P-AMPK, Sirt-1, and PPAR-γ, which induce lipolysis while also decreasing the mRNA expression of TNF-α and ADD1/SREBP-1c, thereby inhibiting the inflammation associated with obesity. Our study suggests that the tea mixture nano-formulation is a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of obesity and may also be beneficial in other metabolic disorders by targeting the AMPK/Sirt-1/Glut-4 pathway.
PubMed: 37512578
DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070871 -
BMC Primary Care Mar 2024The prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Weight management can reduce the risk of...
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Weight management can reduce the risk of complications and improve the quality of life of patients with obesity. This study explored primary care physicians' (PCPs') attitudes and knowledge about weight management.
METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 400 PCPs between 2020 and 2021. The survey included questions on treatment approaches (pharmaceutical and surgical) and items regarding the respondents' demographic characteristics. We compared PCPs with low or high proactivity toward weight management. We explored attitudes and knowledge with the chi-square test for categorical variables or the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables.
RESULTS
A total of 145 PCPs answered our survey (a response rate of 36.25%). More than half (53.8%) of the respondents showed low proactivity toward weight management in their practice. Proactive respondents were more likely to believe that pharmaceutical treatment effectively reduces weight and offered medical and surgical treatment options more frequently to their patients. Lack of knowledge was the most predominant reason for PCPs avoiding offering treatment to their patients, especially in less proactive PCPs (33.3% vs. 5.3%, p-value < 0.001). When comparing different pharmaceutical options, 46.6% of PCPs report they tend to prescribe liraglutide to their patients compared with only 11% who prescribe orlistat and 10.3% who prescribe phentermine (p-value < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Many PCPs still do not actively provide obesity treatment despite improved awareness and therapeutic options. PCPs' proactivity and attitudes are vital to this effort.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Physicians, Primary Care; Israel; Quality of Life; Obesity; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 38504167
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02324-5 -
Journal of Traditional and... Jul 2023() is an imperative plant with many medicinal uses. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the stem bark of and its fractions in a high fat...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
() is an imperative plant with many medicinal uses. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the stem bark of and its fractions in a high fat diet (HFD) rat model.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Seventy-two male albino rats were randomly divided into 9 groups, 8 rats per each. Group 1 was the normal control and received standard balanced diet. All the remaining groups were fed HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Group 2 served as the HFD control group, group 3 received orlistat (5 mg/kg/day), groups 4 and 5 received total extract of stem bark (250 and 500 mg/kg). Groups 6 and 7 received ethyl acetate fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg), while groups 8 and 9 received butanol fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Both doses of the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark of significantly decreased the body weight, blood glucose, lipid profile and improved insulin sensitivity. Levels of MDA, leptin and inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased by the ethyl acetate fraction while adiponectin and HDL-C were significantly increased relative to the HFD control group. Both doses of the ethyl acetate fraction significantly abolished HDF induced oxidative stress and normalized the values of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, metabolic profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction was performed by UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of stem bark possessed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitizing properties in HFD rat model.
PubMed: 37396158
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.03.005 -
Journal of Medicine and Life Sep 2023Obesity is a world health concern and a serious risk factor for several chronic diseases. is a plant with reported anti-obesity properties. However, the preclinical...
Obesity is a world health concern and a serious risk factor for several chronic diseases. is a plant with reported anti-obesity properties. However, the preclinical anti-obesity effect of ethanolic extract of Iraqi has not been studied yet. This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical anti-obesity properties of Iraqi extract, alone or in combination with orlistat, on high-fat diet-induced obesity in male rats. Male rats were divided into five groups: control, induction, ethanolic extract of Iraqi (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg), orlistat (Xenical) alone (10 mg/kg), and a combination of the extract (250 mg/kg) with Xenical. The rats were fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity, and treatments were given orally for 8 weeks. Body weight, food intake, serum lipid profile, and liver enzymes were measured. Administration of ethanolic extract of Iraqi (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg), Xenical alone (10 mg/kg), and combination with the extract (250 mg/kg) for 8 weeks significantly reduced body weight, food intake, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase) when compared to the induction group. The ethanolic extract of Iraqi showed anti-obesity effects and could be a potential therapeutic agent in managing obesity. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its clinical efficacy and safety.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Orlistat; Diet, High-Fat; Hibiscus; Iraq; Plant Extracts; Obesity; Body Weight; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38107717
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2023-0140 -
PloS One 2023The aim was to first investigate the efficacy of a preoperative weight management program centered on orlistat, which is mechanistically similar to gastrointestinal...
INTRODUCTION
The aim was to first investigate the efficacy of a preoperative weight management program centered on orlistat, which is mechanistically similar to gastrointestinal bypass procedures in that it restricts dietary fat absorption, and then assess its impact on the results of one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of consecutive patients aged 20-65 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 42.5 kg/m2 who underwent primary OAGB from 2014 to 2020. Eligible patients who adhered to a 10-14 day orlistat regimen as part of a 4-6-week diet/lifestyle modification plan preceding surgery were stratified into weight reduction (Group 1) and weight gain (Group 2) groups post treatment. The correlation between pre- and postoperative weight loss and perioperative outcomes was assessed.
RESULTS
Of 62 eligible patients, 55 met the inclusion criteria and complied with treatment; 35 (64%) patients in Group 1 lost a median of 2.0 kg, and Group 2 had a median weight gain of 2.9 kg. Group 1 had a significantly higher initial BMI (48.9 kg/m2 vs. 44.6 kg/m2; p = 0.003), more females (54% vs. 25%) and a shorter operation time than Group 2 (107 min vs. 140 min; p = 0.109). There was no difference in the incidence of 30-day complications. Weight loss did not differ between the groups at 24 months.
CONCLUSION
Effective weight control through an orlistat-containing regimen benefitted two-thirds of patients who underwent OAGB; however, further weight loss was not observed at 2 years post-surgery.
Topics: Female; Humans; Gastric Bypass; Retrospective Studies; Obesity, Morbid; Orlistat; Weight Loss; Weight Gain
PubMed: 37506080
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289006 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jul 2023Many modern pharmaceutical researchers continue to focus on the discovery and evaluation of natural compounds for possible therapies for obesity, diabetes, infections,...
BACKGROUND
Many modern pharmaceutical researchers continue to focus on the discovery and evaluation of natural compounds for possible therapies for obesity, diabetes, infections, cancer, and oxidative stress. Extraction of Ocimum basilicum seed essential oil and evaluation of its antioxidant, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities were the goals of the current study.
METHOD
O. basilicum seed essential oil was extracted and evaluated for its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties utilizing standard biomedical assays.
RESULTS
O. basilicum seed essential oil showed good anticancer activity against Hep3B (IC 56.23 ± 1.32 µg/ml) and MCF-7 (80.35 ± 1.17 µg/ml) when compared with the positive control, Doxorubicin. In addition, the essential oil showed potent antibacterial (against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal (against Candida albicans) activities. Moreover, as for the anti-amylase test, IC was 74.13 ± 1.1 µg/ml, a potent effect compared with the IC of acarbose, which was 28.10 ± 0.7 µg/ml. On the other hand, for the anti-lipase test, the IC was 112.20 ± 0.7 µg/ml a moderate effect compared with the IC of orlistat, which was 12.30 ± 0.8 µg/ml. Finally, the oil had a potent antioxidant effect with an IC of 23.44 ± 0.9 µg/ml compared with trolox (IC was 2.7 ± 0.5 µg/ml).
CONCLUSION
This study has provided initial data that supports the importance of O. basilcum essential oil in traditional medicine. The extracted oil not only exhibited significant anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties but also antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects, which provided a foundation for future research.
Topics: Antioxidants; Ocimum basilicum; Hypoglycemic Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Oils, Volatile; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 37403162
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04058-w -
Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks,... Aug 2023Atherogenic dyslipidemia-before or during pregnancy-may contribute to preeclampsia and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk. We performed a nested case-control study... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Atherogenic dyslipidemia-before or during pregnancy-may contribute to preeclampsia and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk. We performed a nested case-control study to further understand dyslipidemia associated with preeclampsia. The cohort consisted of participants in the randomized clinical trial "Improving Reproductive Fitness Through Pretreatment with Lifestyle Modification in Obese Women with Unexplained Infertility" (FIT-PLESE). FIT-PLESE was designed to study the effect of a pre-fertility treatment 16-week randomized lifestyle intervention program (Nutrisystem diet + exercise + orlistat vs. training alone) on improvement in live birth rate among obese women with unexplained infertility. Of the 279 patients in FIT-PLESE, 80 delivered a viable infant. Maternal serum was analyzed across five visits: before and after lifestyle interventions and also at three pregnancy visits (16, 24, and 32 weeks gestation). Apolipoprotein lipids were measured in a blinded fashion using ion mobility. Cases were those who developed preeclampsia. Controls also had a live birth but did not develop preeclampsia. Generalized linear and mixed models with repeated measures were used to compare the mean lipoprotein lipid levels of the two groups across all visits. Complete data were available for 75 pregnancies, and preeclampsia developed in 14.5% of the pregnancies. Cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratios (p < 0.003), triglycerides (p = 0.012), and triglyceride/HDL ratios, all adjusted for BMI, were worse in patients with preeclampsia (p < 0.001). Subclasses a, b, and c of highly atherogenic, very small, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles were higher during pregnancy for the preeclamptic women (p < 0.05). Very small LDL particle subclass d levels were significantly greater only at 24 weeks (p = 0.012). The role of highly atherogenic, very small LDL particle excess in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia awaits further investigation.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Pre-Eclampsia; Case-Control Studies; Atherosclerosis; Obesity; Triglycerides; Infertility; Dyslipidemias
PubMed: 36813973
DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01197-w -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024This study investigates the potential of formulated systems utilising haskap berry leaf extracts and dextran as carriers, to modulate both antioxidant and enzymatic...
This study investigates the potential of formulated systems utilising haskap berry leaf extracts and dextran as carriers, to modulate both antioxidant and enzymatic inhibitory activities and their impact on the growth of specific bacterial strains. The analysis of antioxidant capacity, assessed through ABTS, CUPRAC, DPPH, and FRAP assays, revealed varying but consistently high levels across extracts, with Extract 3 (loganic acid: 2.974 mg/g, chlorogenic acid: 1.125 mg/g, caffeic acid: 0.083 mg/g, rutin: 1.137 mg/g, and quercetin: 1.501 mg/g) exhibiting the highest values (ABTS: 0.2447 mg/mL, CUPRAC: 0.3121 mg/mL, DPPH: 0.21001 mg/mL, and FRAP: 0.3411 mg/mL). Subsequent enzymatic inhibition assays demonstrated a notable inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase (1.4915 mg/mL, expressed as acarbose equivalent), hyaluronidase (0.2982 mg/mL, expressed as quercetin equivalent), and lipase (5.8715 µg/mL, expressed as orlistat equivalent). Further system development involved integration with dextran, showcasing their preserved bioactive compound content and emphasising their stability and potential bioactivity. Evaluation of the dextran systems' impact on bacterial growth revealed a significant proliferation of beneficial strains, particularly the and lactobacilli genus (Bifidobacterium longum: 9.54 × 10 to 1.57 × 10 CFU/mL and : 1.36 × 10 to 1.62 × 10 CFU/mL), suggesting their potential to modulate gut microbiota. These findings offer a foundation for exploring the therapeutic applications of haskap berry-based dextran systems in managing conditions like diabetes, emphasising the interconnected roles of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and dextran formulations in promoting overall metabolic health.
PubMed: 38539890
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13030357 -
Journal of the Endocrine Society Mar 2024Despite a high prevalence of obesity in the veteran population, antiobesity medications (AOMs) have been underused in the Veterans Health Administration. Real-world...
CONTEXT
Despite a high prevalence of obesity in the veteran population, antiobesity medications (AOMs) have been underused in the Veterans Health Administration. Real-world reports on outcomes when AOMs have been used in veterans is limited.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze weight loss outcomes from a local Veterans Health Administration pharmacotherapy-based weight management clinic (WMC).
METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans enrolled in a local WMC for 15 months from August 2016 through September 2018 and followed through November 2019. Patients were offered 1 of 5 available AOMs based on their comorbidities. Factors associated with weight loss (5% or more weight loss) were assessed.
KEY RESULTS
A total of 159 patients were seen in a WMC, 149 (93.7%) veterans were prescribed an AOM, and 129 returned for follow-up. Overall, 61/129 (47%) patients achieved 5% or greater weight loss and 28/129 (22%) achieved 10% or greater weight loss within 15 months. Clinically significant weight loss (%) over the first 15 months was achieved with phentermine/topiramate ER (-6.3%) and liraglutide (-7.5%), but not with orlistat (-3.9%) and lorcaserin (-3.6%). Comorbid obstructive sleep apnea was negatively associated with achieving ≥5% weight loss.
CONCLUSION
Phentermine/topiramate ER and liraglutide were found to be effective AOMs among veterans. Further work is needed to mitigate barriers to AOM initiation given the continued rise in obesity.
PubMed: 38515583
DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae042 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jan 2024Malaria, caused by remains a significant health burden. A barrier for developing anti-malarial drugs is the ability of the parasite to rapidly generate resistance. We...
Malaria, caused by remains a significant health burden. A barrier for developing anti-malarial drugs is the ability of the parasite to rapidly generate resistance. We demonstrated that Salinipostin A (SalA), a natural product, kills parasites by inhibiting multiple lipid metabolizing serine hydrolases, a mechanism with a low propensity for resistance. Given the difficulty of employing natural products as therapeutic agents, we synthesized a library of lipidic mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates as bioisosteres of SalA. Two constitutional isomers exhibited divergent anti-parasitic potencies which enabled identification of therapeutically relevant targets. We also confirm that this compound kills parasites through a mechanism that is distinct from both SalA and the pan-lipase inhibitor, Orlistat. Like SalA, our compound induces only weak resistance, attributable to mutations in a single protein involved in multidrug resistance. These data suggest that mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates are a promising, synthetically tractable anti-malarials with a low-propensity to induce resistance.
PubMed: 38260474
DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575224