Differential effects of a combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora polyphenols in overweight/obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Plant-polyphenols have shown the capacity to ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disturbances, both in cell and animal models, where most therapeutic approaches have failed. On the basis of previous research, a dietary supplement containing 500 mg of a combination of polyphenolic extracts from Lippia citriodora L. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (LC-HS), in the context of an equilibrated isocaloric diet, was evaluated in a double blind, placebo-controlled and randomized trial in 56 obese/overweight subjects for two months. Compared to controls, the consumption of the LC-HS polyphenols showed significant improvements in body weight, abdominal circumference of overweight subjects (−6.79 ± 0.80 cm in overweight LC-HS group vs −1.85 ± 0.83 cm in controls, p < 0.001) and body fat % (−1.33 ± 0.15% in overweight LC-HS group vs −0.66 ± 0.17% in controls, p < 0.05). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure also presented significant improvements in overweight LC-HS participants. However, changes were more modest in obese subjects. Further, LC-HS extract significantly reduced lipid content and increased AMPK activity in a hypertrophied adipocyte cell model. Therefore, consumption of 500 mg/day of LC-HS extracts enriched in polyphenols for two months in the context of an isocaloric diet by overweight subjects decreased symptoms associated to obesity-related diseases. Modulation of fat metabolism in adipose tissue, probably mediated by AMPK activation, is proposed as a molecular target to be explored in future research.

The Potential Synergistic Modulation of AMPK by Lippia citriodora Compounds as a Target in Metabolic Disorders

“…In agreement with our findings, several studies in humans and in animal models with botanical extracts or ingredients containing in part or fully verbascoside have shown significant cardiometabolic benefits. Recently, a dietary supplement containing verbascoside and anthocyanins have exhibited vascular and metabolic benefits in a randomized controlled trial with overweight and obese subjects [6,13]. Moreover, the consumption of low doses of an olive leaf extract containing verbascoside, secoiridoids and flavonoids during 5 weeks in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice prevented the development of obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction [46].…”

“…For a long time, numerous plants have been used as traditional remedies against diverse metabolic disorders, including those associated with obesity [5]. In recent years, a growing number of studies have demonstrated the mechanisms by which plant compounds, especially polyphenols, confer such benefits [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Approaches such as bioguided fractionation and purification have been used to identify the compounds responsible for the health effects, but are insufficient to resolve the complexity of plant extracts.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that polyphenols from LC can ameliorate the metabolic alterations that occur in obesity by decreasing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and modulating the expression or activity of some proteins involved in metabolic homeostasis and energy control, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) [14]. Evidence from cellular and animal models of obesity and from human trials suggests that the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by LC polyphenols might be one of the mechanisms involved in the modulation of fat metabolism [6,13,17].…”

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle) supplementation in regulating blood lipids among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…A controlled before–after trial conducted by Ghislain et al () showed that 1 L of H. sabdariffa juice (containing 21.5‐g dried herbs) consumption per day for eight consecutive days could significantly decrease the serum HDL‐C level ( p = .005 vs. baseline), and even on the fourth day after drinking, the trend of HDL‐C decline is very obvious ( p = .003 vs. baseline; Ghislain et al, ). A trial conducted by Herranz‐López et al () showed that a combination of H. sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora polyphenols could improve cardiac metabolic parameters in obese patients, but long‐time consumption (2 months) might reduce the serum HDL‐C level ( p < .05 vs. baseline; Herranz‐Lopez et al, ). Nevertheless, the results of most animal experiments showed that H. sabdariffa or its extracts could increase HDL‐C or had no significant effect, instead of lowering it (Hopkins et al, ).…”

Effectiveness of a Polyphenolic Extract (Lippia Citriodora and Hibiscus Sabdariffa) on Appetite Regulation in Overweight and Obese Grade I Population: A 8 weeks Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…However, the mechanisms are not well known (14)(15)(16). Scienti c literature shown that certain plan-derivate extracts such a Hibiscus sabadariffa, Lippia citriodora extracts can modulate different metabolic pathways and activating the AMPK pathway which favor lipolysis and therefore fat loss (17). Previous studies have shown that Hibiscus sabdariffa have an effect on the expression of pre-pandial hormones (18), containing a large amount of polyphenols that provide proven health bene ts (19), but its potential as a satiety agent is not deeply studied.…”