Cynometra cauliflora Linn. Attenuates metabolic abnormalities in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Seyedan A 1 , Mohamed Z 2 , Alshagga MA 3 , Koosha S 4 , Alshawsh MA 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: a_seyyedan@yahoo.com
  • 2 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: zahurin@um.edu.my
  • 3 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: yamosta@yahoo.com
  • 4 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: nazkoosha@gmail.com
  • 5 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: alshaweshmam@um.edu.my
J Ethnopharmacol, 2019 May 23;236:173-182.
PMID: 30851371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.03.001

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cynometra cauliflora Linn. belongs to the Fabaceae family and is known locally in Malaysia as nam-nam. Traditionally, a decoction of the C. cauliflora leaves is used for treating hyperlipidemia and diabetes.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate the anti-obesity and lipid lowering effects of ethanolic extract of C. cauliflora leaves and its major compound (vitexin) in C57BL/6 obese mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD), as well as to further identify the molecular mechanism underlying this action.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with HFD (60% fat) for 16 weeks to become obese. The treatment started during the last 8 weeks of HFD feeding and the obese mice were treated with C. cauliflora leaf extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, orlistat (10 mg/kg) and vitexin (10 mg/kg).

RESULTS: The oral administration of C. cauliflora (400 and 200 mg/kg) and vitexin significantly reduced body weight, adipose tissue and liver weight and lipid accumulation in the liver compared to control HFD group. Both doses of C. cauliflora also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased serum triglyceride, LDL, lipase, IL-6, peptide YY, resistin levels, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia compared to the control HFD group. Moreover, C. cauliflora significantly up-regulated the expression of adiponectin, Glut4, Mtor, IRS-1 and InsR genes, and significantly decreased the expression of Lepr in white adipose tissue. Furthermore, C. cauliflora significantly up-regulated the expression of hypothalamus Glut4, Mtor and NF-kB genes. GC-MS analysis of C. cauliflora leaves detected the presence of phytol, vitamin E and β-sitosterol. Besides, the phytochemical evaluation of C. cauliflora leaves showed the presence of flavonoid, saponin and phenolic compounds.

CONCLUSION: This study shows interesting outcomes of C. cauliflora against HFD-induced obesity and associated metabolic abnormalities. Therefore, the C. cauliflora extract could be a potentially effective agent for obesity management and its related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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