Sneha Jagtap

Cinnamaldehyde supplementation prevents fasting‐induced hyperphagia, lipid accumulation, and inflammation in high‐fat diet‐fed mice

Cinnamaldehyde, a bioactive component of cinnamon, is increasingly gaining interest for its preventive and therapeutic effects against metabolic complications like type-2 diabetes. This study is an attempt to understand the effect of cinnamaldehyde in high-fat diet (HFD)-associated increase in fasting-induced hyperphagia and related hormone levels, adipose tissue lipolysis and inflammation, and selected cecal microbial count in mice. Cinnamaldehyde, at 40 µM dose, prevented lipid accumulation and altered gene expression toward lipolytic phenotype in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell lines. In vivo, cinnamaldehyde coadministration prevented HFD-induced body weight gain, decreased fasting-induced hyperphagia, as well as circulating leptin and leptin/ghrelin ratio. In addition to that, cinnamaldehyde altered serum biochemical parameters related to lipolysis, that is, glycerol and free fatty acid levels. At transcriptional level, cinnamaldehyde increased anorectic gene expression in hypothalamus and lipolytic gene expression in visceral white adipose tissue. Furthermore, cinnamaldehyde also decreased serum IL-1β and inflammatory gene expression in visceral white adipose tissue. However, cinnamaldehyde did not modulate the population of selected gut microbial (Lactobacillus, Bifidibaceria, and Roseburia) count in cecal content. In conclusion, cinnamaldehyde increased adipose tissue lipolysis, decreased fasting-induced hyperphagia, normalized circulating levels of leptin/ghrelin ratio, and reduced inflammation in HFD-fed mice, which augurs well for its antiobesity role.

Antioxidant activity of a new phenolic glycoside from Lagenaria siceraria Stand. fruits.

The antioxidant properties of different extracts of Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) fruit were evaluated. In the process, a new phenolic glycoside (E)-4-hydroxymethyl-phenyl-6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated and identified together with 1-(2-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl)-phenyl-6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-gluco-pyranoside (2), protocatechuic acid (3), gallic acid (4), caffeic acid (5) and 3,4-dimethoxy cinnamic acid (6). Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR experiments including (1)H-(1)H (COSY) and (1)H-(13)C (HMQC and HMBC) spectroscopy and chemical evidences. The antioxidant potential of the compound 1 and 2 was tested in different in vitro assay systems such as free radical scavenging assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay, superoxide scavenging activity, reducing power assay and linoleic acid peroxidation assay.

Anti adipogenic activity of Aegle marmelos Correa.

In continuation of evaluating the anti-obesity effect of Aegle marmelos, we have screened the n-hexane, dichloro methane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the leaves at the concentration of 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/ml for adipogenesis inhibition in the adipocytes. Nile red staining with the help of fluorometry was used as indicator of the antiobesity activity. The most active DCM extract showed the 33.98±3.55% lipid content at 100μg/ml and was selected for the further isolation. 14 compounds were isolated from DCM extract of A. marmelos leaves. The compounds were screened for the adipogenesis inhibition at 50 and 100 μM concentrations. Out of the 14 compounds, halfordinol, ethyl ether aegeline and esculetin were showing 10.04±0.52, 16.29±0.85 and 25.09±1.31% lipid content respectively at 100 μM. We hereby report the adipogenesis inhibition by A. marmelos as one of the pathway for its antiobesity effect.

Protective effects of phyllanthin, a lignan from Phyllanthus amarus, against progression of high fat diet induced metabolic disturbances in mice

Evidence based studies have proved the efficacy of plant derived bioactives against lifestyle oriented disorders as they can be incorporated in to the diet or diet based supplements. Phyllanthin is one such lignan from Phyllanthus amarus as well as different Phyllanthus species. Phyllanthin was evaluated as a chronic intervention (12 weeks) in mice, at a daily dose of 2 and 4 mg kg−1 of body weight along with a lard based high fat diet (HFD). Phyllanthin protected against HFD induced weight gain and adiposity. Phyllanthin supplementation reduced mRNA expression of adipogenic genes and increased expression of lipolytic genes in white adipose tissue. Treatment also showed reduction in liver triglyceride accumulation. HFD induced serum lipid disturbances were found to be restored by phyllanthin. Treatment reduced serum triglycerides and free fatty acids in HFD fed mice. Phyllanthin counteracted coexisting low grade inflammation and oxidative stress in adipose tissue and liver. Along with serum proinflammatory cytokines, expression of NF-κB and F4/80 was decreased by phyllanthin. Supplementation of phyllanthin accelerated glucose clearance along with alleviation of insulin resistance in terms of HOMA-IR. Furthermore, mRNA expression of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 was elevated by phyllanthin in liver and adipose tissue. The present study confirmed the protective effects of phyllanthin against HFD induced metabolic changes. Daily consumption of phyllanthin in the diet as a nutraceutical can ameliorate the development of metabolic disorders.

Effect of mahanimbine, an alkaloid from curry leaves, on high-fat diet-induced adiposity, insulin resistance, and inflammatory alterations.

Spices and condiments, small but an integral part of the daily diet, are known to affect physiological functions. This study evaluated the effects of mahanimbine, a major carbazole alkaloid from Murraya koenigii (curry leaves), against progression of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic complications in mice (male and female). Mahanimbine at 2 mg/kg (HFD + LD) and 4 mg/kg (HFD + HD) of body weight was administered daily along with HFD feeding for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, male HFD + LD and HFD + HD groups showed 51.70 ± 3.59% and 47.37 ± 3.73% weight gain, respectively, as compared with 71.02 ± 6.04% in HFD fed mice whereas female HFD + LD and HFD + HD groups showed 24.31 ± 1.68% and 25.10 ± 2.61% weight gain as compared with HFD group with 36.69 ± 3.60% of weight gain. Mahanimbine prevented HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and fat accumulation in adipose tissue and liver along with the restricted progression of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, mahanimbine treatment improved glucose clearance and upregulated the expression of insulin responsive genes in liver and adipose tissue. Male and female mice showed different traits in development of HFD-induced metabolic disturbances; however, mahanimbine treatment exerted similar effects in both the sexes. In addition, mahanimbine lowered the absorption of dietary fat resulting in dietary fat excretion. In conclusion, daily consumption of mahanimbine and thereby curry leaves may alleviate development of HFD-induced metabolic alterations.