title: Reducing effect of a combination of Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus extracts on food intake and glycemia in rats.
abstract: Extracts from Phaseolus vulgaris and Cynara scolymus may reduce food intake and/or postprandial glycemia. This study investigated the effect of standardized extracts of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus and their combination on food intake and glycemia in rats. P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts, and their 1:2 combination, were administered acutely to rats (a) given access to regular food and water, (b) given access to regular food, water, and a chocolate-flavored beverage, or (c) infused with a starch bolus. P. vulgaris extract and the combination produced comparable reductions in intake of regular food and chocolate-flavored beverage; conversely, C. scolymus extract was ineffective on both parameters. P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts additively contributed to the reducing effect of the combination on glycemic rise. These results suggest that a mixture of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts is preferable over each single extract, as it combines the anorectic effect of the P. vulgaris extract with the hypoglycemic effect of both extracts. These data support the recent clinical use of the combination of P. vulgaris and C. scolymus extracts in the control of appetite, food intake, and postprandial glycemia and represent a successful example of translational research in the nutraceutical field.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Section of Cagliari, National Research Council of Italy, S.S. 554 km. 4, 500, I-09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gessa
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bombardelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morazzoni
authors.forename: Mauro A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001628:Beverages; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D031943:Cynara scolymus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts