Reduction of fat storage in mice fed a high‐fat diet long term by treatment with saponins prepared from Kochia scoparia fruit

Abstract

The fresh fruit (Japanese name, Tonburi) of Kochia scoparia has been used as a food garnish in Japanese-style dishes from ancient times, and may prevent metabolic syndromes such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity and atherosclerosis. This study was performed to clarify whether an ethanol extract of K. scoparia fruit prevented obesity induced in mice by a high-fat diet for 9 weeks. The ethanol extract of K. scoparia fruit prevented the increases in body weight and parametrial adipose tissue weight induced by the high-fat diet. Furthermore, consumption of a high-fat diet containing 1% or 3% K. scoparia extract significantly increased the fecal content and the fecal triacylglycerol level at day 3 compared with those in the high-fat diet group. The ethanol extract (250 mg/kg) and total saponins (100 mg/kg) of K. scoparia inhibited the elevation of the plasma triacylglyccerol level 2 or 3 h after the oral administration of the lipid emulsion. Total saponins, momordin Ic, 2'-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl momordin Ic and 2'-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl momordin IIc isolated from K. scoparia fruit inhibited the pancreatic lipase activity (in vitro). These findings suggest that the anti-obesity actions of K. scoparia extract in mice fed a high-fat diet may be partly mediated through delaying the intestinal absorption of dietary fat by inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity.

Antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic effects of the Brazilian salsaparrilhas Smilax brasiliensis Spreng. (Smilacaceae) and Herreria salsaparrilha Mart. (Agavaceae) in mice treated with a high-refined-carbohydrate containing diet

“…4). Many authors have shown that saponins can also reduce triglycerides in plasma, but the mechanism is not yet elucidated (Ebaid et al, 2006;Francis, Kerem, Makkar, & Becker, 2002;Gee & Johnson, 1988;Han et al, 2006;Milgate & Roberts, 1995;Oakenfull, 2001;Uemura et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012). Previous studies in rats and BALB/c mice showed an increase in visceral fat after a long-term diet high in refined carbohydrates (Fortino et al, 2007;Oliveira et al, 2013).…”

“…are very rich in steroidal saponins (Challinor et al, 2012). The ability of this kind of saponins to form insoluble complexes with cholesterol, promoting their fecal elimination and causing a hypocholesterolemic effect is well known (Ebaid et al, 2006;Han et al, 2006;Sidhu & Oakenfull, 1986;Uemura et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012). Despite be not yet chemically defined, species of Herreria belongs to Agavaceae family that are also rich in steroidal saponins (Romuald et al, 2013).…”

Obesity: Development, Epidemiology, Factors Affecting, Quantity, Health Hazards, Management and Natural Treatment-a Review

“…This pancreatic lipase inhibitory phytochemicals include mainly, polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins and caffeine [136][137][138][139]. Many carbohydrates also possess potent PL inhibitory effects [140,141].…”

Phytobiotic Utilization as Feed Additive in Feed for Pancreatic Enzyme Activity of Broiler Chicken

“…Another study also reported active compounds that have the potential to inhibit the activity of the pancreatic lipase is a saponin contained in plant Theasinensis (Han et al, 2001) and Platycodi radix (Xu et al, 2005), Panax japonicas , Kochiascoparia (Han et al, 2006) and falvonoid contained in the leaves of Dutch identity (Darusman et al, 2001). Pancreatic lipase activity increases, it will increase the absorption of monoglycerides and fatty acids that affect obesity (Joshita et al, 2000).…”