title: Anti-obesity effects of the methanolic extract and chakasaponins from the flower buds of Camellia sinensis in mice.
abstract: The methanolic extract from the flower buds of Camellia sinensis cultivated in Fujian Province showed inhibitory effects on body weight gain and the weight of visceral fats in high-fat diet-fed mice and/or Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetic (TSOD) mice. A suppressive effect of the extract on food intake was suggested to contribute to the anti-obesity effect. The n-butanol (BuOH)-soluble fraction also reduced food intake in normal diet-fed mice. A principal constituent, chakasaponin II, inhibited gastric emptying (GE) as well as food intake. These inhibitory effects were partly reduced by pretreatment with a high dose of capsaicin. The n-BuOH-soluble fraction and chakasaponin II suppressed mRNA levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), an important regulator of body weight through its effects on food intake and energy expenditure, in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, chakasaponin II enhanced the release of serotonin (5-HT) from the isolated ilea of mice in vitro. These findings suggested that the active saponins suppressed the appetite signals in the hypothalamus through stimulation of the capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, probably vagal afferent nerves, or enhancement of 5-HT release from the ilea, leading to reduced food intake and body weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamao
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Seikou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Souichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semura
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maekubo
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakasugi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins