Betulinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, prevents abdominal fat accumulation in mice fed a high-fat diet.
In the search for potential antiobese agents from natural sources, this study investigated the effects of betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene from Clusia nemorosa L. (Clusiaceae), in mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). Adult male Swiss mice (n = 8) treated or not with BA (50 mg/L, in drinking water) were fed a HFD during 15 weeks. Mice treated with BA and fed a HFD showed significantly (P < 0.05) decreased body weights, abdominal fat accumulation, blood glucose, plasma triglycerides, and total cholesterol relative to their respective controls fed no BA. Additionally, BA treatment, while significantly elevating the plasma hormone levels of insulin and leptin, decreased the level of ghrelin. However, it caused a greater decrease in plasma amylase activity than the lipase. These findings suggest that BA has an antiobese potential through modulation of fat and carbohydrate metabolism, and it may be a suitable lead compound in the treatment of obesity.
de Melo
Célio L
CL
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Queiroz
Maria Goretti R
MG
Arruda Filho
Antonio Carlos V
AC
Rodrigues
Adriana M
AM
de Sousa
Daniel F
DF
Almeida
José Gustavo L
JG
Pessoa
Otilia Deusdênia L
OD
Silveira
Edilberto R
ER
Menezes
Dalgimar B
DB
Melo
Tiago S
TS
Santos
Flavia A
FA
Rao
Vietla S
VS
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D031251:Clusia / Q000737:chemistry; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D000094062:Betulinic Acid