Nepeta japonica Maximowicz extract from natural products inhibits lipid accumulation.

BACKGROUND

To develop novel and crude anti-obesity drugs from natural products is a promising field to approach the solution to a global health problem such as obesity. The aim of this study was to screen crude anti-obesity drugs from 400 natural products on lipase inhibition activity in vitro.

RESULTS

Among the natural products examined, 31 extracts showed significantly inhibition activity against porcine pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol lipase, EC 3.1.1.3) by using spectrophotometry with 2,4-dinitrophenylbutyrate as a substrate. Furthermore, 31 natural products were investigated with regard to their lipid inhibition in 3T3-L1 cells. Among these, one of most promising was Nepeta japonica Maximowicz extract, which showed inhibition of triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting anti-obesity activity. Also, the amount of glycerol released from cells into the medium was increased by treatment of Nepeta japonica Maximowicz extract at a concentration of 100 µg mL(-1) .

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that a promising crude anti-obesity drug screened from 400 natural products might be of therapeutic interest with respect to the treatment of obesity.