title: Appetite suppressing effect of Spinacia oleracea in rats: Involvement of the short term satiety signal cholecystokinin.
abstract: Spinacia oleracea (spinach) is a green leafy vegetable rich in antioxidant phyto-constituents such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins. Fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids are known to prevent weight gain by inducing satiety. The present study evaluates the appetite suppressing effect of a flavonoid rich extract of the spinach leaf (SOE) in rats. HPTLC of SOE was performed for detecting flavonoids. Rats were administered SOE (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, p. o) and fluoxetine (6 mg/kg i. p) as a pre-meal for 14 days. Food intake and weight gain was observed daily during the treatment period. Serum levels of the short term satiety signals cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucose were measured on the 7th and 14thdays at different time points after start of meal to study the satiety inducing effect of SOE. HPTLC showed the presence of 14 flavonoids in SOE. SOE and fluoxetine treated rats showed a significant reduction in food intake and weight gain when compared with the normal control rats. On the 7th day of treatment, peak CCK levels were reached in 30 min after start of meal in fluoxetine treated rats and in 60 min in the remaining rats. On the 14th day, CCK peaking was observed in 30 min after start of meal in the fluoxetine as well as SOE 400 mg/kg treated rats. Peak glucose levels in all treatment groups were obtained in 60 min after start of feeding on both days of the study. It maybe concluded that SOE exhibited a promising appetite suppressing effect by inducing a quicker than normal release of CCK, thus eliciting an early onset of satiety in rats. This effect may be due to its high flavonoid content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Prin. K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Jote Joy Building, Rambhau Salgaonkar Marg, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: vspanda@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Prin. K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Jote Joy Building, Rambhau Salgaonkar Marg, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, 400005, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shinde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000187:drug effects*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D005473:Fluoxetine; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Cholecystokinin; Flavonoids; Glucose; Satiety; Spinacia oleracea