title: The saponin-rich fraction of a Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. aqueous leaf extract reduces cafeteria and high-fat diet-induced obesity.
abstract: We examined the antiobesity effect of a saponin-rich fraction of a Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. aqueous leaf extract (SGE) using cafeteria and high-fat diet-induced obese rats for a period of eight weeks. SGE was orally administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight once a day to the treatment group. It significantly decreased the body weight, food consumption, visceral organs weight, and the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins, atherogenic index, glucose, and increased the levels of high-density lipoproteins. There was no significant difference with respect to all parameters of the study in case of normal (N) diet and N diet + SGE rats. In vitro, SGE inhibited the pancreatic lipase activity. The present study gave clear evidence that the SGE has a significant antiobese action, supporting its use in traditional medicine, and can be used as a substitute for synthetic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati-517 502, A. P., India.
authors.forename: Rama Manohar I
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Pushpa B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.forename: Tartte
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vijaya
authors.forename: Dattatreya S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D031104:Gymnema sylvestre / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins