PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH

Phytother. Res. 30: 260266 (2016)

Published online 3 December 2015 in Wiley Online Library
(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5525

Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used for Treatment

of Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus Screening for
Pancreatic Lipase and -Amylase Inhibition

Tina Buchholz and Matthias F. Melzig*

Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany

In order to find new pancreatic lipase (PL) and -amylase inhibitors from natural sources for the treatment of
obesity and related diseases as diabetes mellitus II, 23 medicinal plants with weight-reducing, serum glucose-
reducing or related potential were investigated. Methanolic and water extracts of the plants were evaluated by
using two in vitro test systems. Our findings have shown that the methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.
(Malvaceae) showed high inhibitory activities to PL (IC50: 35.8 0.8 g/mL) and -amylase (IC50: 29.3 0.5 g/mL).
Furthermore, the methanolic extract of Tamarindus indica L. (Leguminosae) showed a high anti-lipase
(IC50: 152.0 7.0 g/mL) and the aqueous extract a high anti-amylase (IC50: 139.4 9.0 g/mL) activity. This
work provides a priority list of interesting plants for further study with respect to the treatment of obesity
and associated diseases. Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: anti-obesity; anti-diabetes; pancreatic lipase inhibition; -amylase inhibition; medicinal plants.

and voglibose (Ali et al., 2006; Sergent et al., 2012). But

INTRODUCTION
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a
number of chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus, coro-
nary heart diseases, cancer (endometrial, breast, and
colon) and sleep breathing disorders (Kopelman, 2000;
Trigueros et al., 2013). Worldwide, the number of people
suffering from obesity has more than doubled since 1980
and becomes more and more a major challenge for our
society (WHO 2015). About 26% of the total health
care costs in several developed countries are attribut-
able to lipid-lowering drugs (Bustanji et al., 2011). An
important target for the treatment of obesity and related
diseases includes the development of inhibitors of
nutrient digestion and absorption (Foster-Schubert and
Cummings, 2006). Human pancreatic lipase [HPL, pan-
creatic triacylglycerol lipase (EC: 3.1.1.3)] is the main
enzyme that breaks down dietary fats in the human di-
gestive system (Kimura et al., 1982; Winkler et al.,
1990). HPL is able to hydrolyze 40% to 70% of the
ingested triacylglycerides (TAGs) (Birari and Bhutani,
2007; Tucci et al., 2010). In this context, inhibition of
pancreatic lipase (PL) and the associated reduction of
lipid absorption is an attractive approach for the discov-
ery of potent agents to the treatment of obesity (Ros,
2000; Slanc et al., 2009; Thomson et al., 1997). Also,
inhibition of essential enzymes for carbohydrate diges-
tion (-amylase [1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase
(EC: 3.2.1.1)], -glucosidase [maltase-glucoamylase
(EC: 3.2.1.20), (EC: 3.2.1.3)] is an interesting strategy
(Ali et al., 2006; Kim et al., 2000). Examples of enzyme
inhibitors in clinical use are orlistat, acarbose, miglitol
* Correspondence to: Matthias F. Melzig, Institute of Pharmacy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Freie Universitaet Berlin,
Koenigin-Luise-Str. 2 + 4, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
E-mail: melzig@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
the use of these inhibitors is compromised by unpleasant
gastrointestinal adverse reactions (Chaput et al., 2007;
Chiasson et al., 2002). The aim of present research is
directed towards identifying inhibitors that lack some of
these adverse reactions. An interesting research field for
the development of new drugs is the search of inhibitors
from plant origin. Natural products generally have the
advantage in being milder in their activity than totally syn-
thetic drugs, in having a broad spectrum of possible
multiple/synergetic effects and having reduced toxic and
systemic adverse effects by low absorption rates in the
gut (Bustanji et al., 2011; Gholamhoseinian et al., 2010).
The idea of using natural products to reduce lipid and
carbohydrate absorption is based on the assumption that
fat and sugar degradation is not completely inhibited by
the natural compounds as is the case with synthetic prod-
ucts. In this way, energy-containing nutrients reach distal
regions of the small intestine (i.e., the ileum) where, as
evidenced in numerous studies, the so-called ileal brake
is initiated (Maljaars et al., 2010; Shin et al., 2013). The
ileal brake is named for the feedback loop that slows
or brakes gastric emptying and duodeno-jejunal motility.
Consequently, food intake is reduced, and satiety levels
are increased (Maljaars et al., 2008).
In this context, the use of natural products to inhibit
important digestive enzymes is an important therapeutic
approach. In the present study, we have screened a total
of 23 plants belonging to 14 families using simple, fast,
efficient, and reliable fluorescence-based in vitro en-
zyme assays in an attempt to provide a preliminary
selection of plants with potential PL and -amylase in-
hibitory activities for further consideration of more
detailed research while looking for development of
new botanical resources. Only plants were tested, which
were attributed to a beneficial effect in the treatment of
obesity and diabetes mellitus II in traditional medicine
as described in the literature.
Received 16 September 2015
Revised 26 October 2015
Accepted 5 November 2015
 Table 1. List of plants used in this study and part of the plant from which the extract has been isolated

Scientific name Family Described effect Extract Reference(s)

Allium sativum L. Amaryllidaceae Decreased serum glucose, total Used plant part: bulb, 80% (v/v) EtOH, Eidi et al., 2006
cholesterol, TAGs, urea, uric 72 h heated under reflux
acid, creatinine, AST, and
ALT levels
Aronia melanocarpa Rosaceae Increased insulin sensitivity Commercially available chokeberry El-Abhar and Schaalan, 2014
(Michx.) Elliot by increasing adiponectin secretion flavonoid extract (Aronox)
Crataegus laevigata Rosaceae Lowers blood pressure, prevention Alcoholic extract Graf et al., 2010
(Poir.) DC. of increase of TAGs, LDL and VLDL

Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

C. laevigata (Poir.) DC.
Cynara cardunculus L.
Echium vulgare L.
Hibiscus sabdariffa L.
Malva sylvestris L.
Melissa officinalis L.
Mentha aquatica L.
cholesterol in the blood
Rosaceae Lowers blood pressure, prevention of Alcoholic extract Graf et al., 2010
increase of TAGs, LDL, and VLDL
cholesterol in the blood
Compositae -Amylase inhibition Used plant part: herb, fractional Funke, 2007
extraction with n-hexan,
dichloromethane, ethanol and HEPES buffer)
Boraginaceae Pancreatic lipase inhibition Used plant part: leaves, Buchholz and Melzig, 2015;
flowers, 70% (v/v) EtOH, Marrelli et al., 2014
48 h heated through
maceration at RT
Malvaceae Polyphenol content influences Aqueous extract Prez-Torres et al., 2013
the course of obesity disease
Malvaceae
Lamiaceae -Amylase inhibition Used plant part: herb, aqueous extract, Melzig and Funke, 2007
1 h heated under reflux
Lamiaceae Pancreatic lipase inhibition Used plant part: leaves, 70% (v/v) EtOH, Buchholz and Melzig, 2015;
INHIBITION OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

48 h heated through maceration at RT) Marrelli et al., 2014

Nigella sativa L. Ranunculaceae Weight reduction, improving Used plant part: different preparations Qidwai and Ashfaq, 2014
serum lipid levels (decrease
total lipids, TAGs, and LDLs)
Olea europaea L. Oleaceae Reduction of blood glucose Used plant part: leaves, 80% (v/v) EtOH, Panickar, 2013; Eidi et al., 2009
and insulin levels (oleanolic acid), 72 h heated in a Soxhlet apparatus
Peumus boldus Molina Monimiaceae Lowering blood glucose levels Tea preparation Schilcher et al., 2010
Phaseolus vulgaris L. Leguminosae -Amylase inhibition Used plant part: husk, tea preparation Barrett and Udani, 2011;
Fintelmann and Weiss, 2009;
Guillou et al., 2012;
Roman-Ramos et al., 1995
Potentilla aurea L. Rosaceae Insulin-like effect Tea preparation Fintelmann and Weiss, 2009;
Guillou et al., 2012
Punica granatum L. Lythraceae Lowering blood glucose levels Different preparations Banihani et al., 2013
(puninic acid),

(Continues)

Phytother. Res. 30: 260266 (2016)

261

Table 1. (Continued)
Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scientific name
P. granatum L.
Rosmarinus officinalis L.
Tamarindus indica L.
Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Vitis vinifera L.
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; EtOH, ethanol; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; VLDL, very low density lipoprotein; HEPES, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic
acid; RT, room temperature; MeOH, methanol.
Phytother. Res. 30: 260266 (2016)
262
Family Described effect Extract Reference(s)
lowering blood TAGs and
cholesterol levels
Lythraceae Lowering blood glucose levels Different preparations Banihani et al., 2013
(puninic acid),
lowering blood TAGs
and cholesterol levels
Lamiaceae Pancreatic lipase inhibition Used plant part: leaves, Buchholz and Melzig, 2015;
80% (v/v) MeOH, Bustanji et al., 2010
shaking at 37 C for 3 h
Leguminosae -Amylase inhibition Used plant part: leaves, Melzig and Funke, 2007
aqueous extract
Leguminosae Lowering cholesterol Used plant part: seed powder Bumler, 2013;
and blood sugar levels Khosla et al., 1995
by increased insulin secretion
Ericaceae Lowering blood glucose Different preparations Graf et al., 2010;
T. BUCHHOLZ AND M. F. MELZIG
levels (active component: myrtillin) Guillou et al., 2012
Vitaceae Lowering blood LDL and TAG levels Different preparations Graf et al., 2010
Zingiberaceae Increasing the insulin-sensitive glucose Different preparations Panickar, 2013
uptake in adipocytes (active
component: gingerol)
 INHIBITION OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES 263

the solution was distilled under reduced pressure at 40 C

EXPERIMENTAL
Chemicals. Plants or plant parts were purchased from
Kruter Schulte Aktiv Kruter Drogerie e.K. (Gernsbach,
Germany). Orlistat, 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate and
acarbose (SigmaAldrich Chemie GmbH Steinheim,
Germany); porcine pancreas powder (pancreatis pulvis
PH. EUR. 6.3, Caesar & Loretz GmbH, Hilden,
Germany) and EnzChek Ultra Amylase Assay Kit (Life
Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA) were used. All the
other chemicals were reagent-grade or analytical grade,
respectively.
Plant extraction. The list of plants used in this study and
their described effect are given in Table 1. Plants were
ground to a fine powder using a laboratory mill
(IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KG, Staufen, Germany),
stored at room temperature, and protected from light
until extraction. Extraction of samples was as follows:
for the water extraction, 5 g of the powdered plant parts
were extracted with 100.0 mL of boiling deionized water
in a refluxed condenser for 15 min. After filtration, the
aqueous solution was lyophilized immediately and
stored dry at room temperature and protected from
light. The methanolic extracts were prepared by
extraction of 5 g powder with 100.0 mL of boiling
methanol in a refluxed condenser for 1 h. After filtration,
and then lyophilized and stored at 4 C and protected
from light until use.
Pancreatic lipase inhibition. An enzymatic in vitro assay
based on the hydrolysis kinetics of an oleate ester of
4-methylumbelliferone was used to determine PL activ-
ity and assess the inhibitory potential of the selected
plant extracts. The assay was performed as follows: A
volume of 25 L of the sample solution (plant extract,
final concentration in the reaction mixture: 2.5 mg/mL)
dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and 25 L of
PL solution were mixed in the well of a 96-well microti-
ter plate. The enzyme and extract solutions were
prepared immediately before use. Porcine pancreas
powder was suspended in TrisHCl buffer (13 mM
TrisHCl, 150 mM NaCl, 1.3 mM CaCl2, pH 8.0) to give
a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. After a pre-incubation
of PL with each particular extract for 10 min, 50 L
4-methylumbelliferyl oleate (0.5 mM) was added to each
well to initiate the enzyme reaction. The amount of
4-methylumbelliferone was measured at 37 C over
30 min using a fluorescence reader (Tecan Group Ltd.,
Maennedorf, Switzerland) at an excitation and emission
wavelength of 360 nm and 465 nm. For all measure-
ments, a 100% activity control, where the extract was
replaced with the same volume of DMSO, was exam-
ined. Orlistat was used as positive control.

Table 2. Pancreatic lipase and -amylase inhibitory activity (%) of the tested plant extracts

Lipase inhibition (%) Lipase inhibition (%) -Amylase inhibition (%) -Amylase inhibition (%)
Scientific name Used part MeOH extract aqueous extract MeOH extract aqueous extract

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flowers 100 0 100 0 100 0 100 0

Tamarindus indica L. Husk 98.6 0.6 98.2 0.1 100 0 100 0
Punica granatum L. Husk 97.9 1.6 100 0 99.2 0.9 98.4 1.9
P. granatum L. Seed 100 0 68.8 21.2 94.5 5.2 52.5 12.0
Peumus boldus Leaves 100 0 59.0 3.1 69.2 4.9 58.7 1.6
Molina
Cynara cardunculus L. Herb 100 0 n.i. 38.0 2.7 4.9 2.2
Malva sylvestris L. Flowers 100 0 57.1 8.6 48.6 5.4 27.8 0.5
Mentha aquatica L. Leaves 100 0 29.8 3.6 61.7 5.5 14.0 3.0
Nigella sativa L. Fruit 100 0 69.0 3.6 45.8 5.3 15.9 0.5
Olea europaea L. Leaves 100 0 20.9 5.0 64.3 1.1 32.3 0.8
Phaseolus vulgaris L. Husk 100 0 n.i. 40.9 10.0 n.i.
Rosmarinus officinalis L. Leaves 100 0 31.8 8.0 74.1 1.1 37.4 3.6
Vitis vinifera L. Seed 100 0 58.6 5.7 53.7 1.9 63.9 4.3
Aronia melanocarpa Fruit 72.9 5.1 n.i. 58.6 1.9 49.7 3.8
(Michx.) Elliot
Zingiber officinale Rhizome 81.4 14.4 80.1 6.1 62.5 5.4 69.4 12.4
Roscoe
Allium sativum L. Bulb 86.3 1.8 9.9 3.2 36.6 4.0 44.7 6.4
Crataegus laevigata Leaves, 89.1 5.0 45.4 3.1 63.2 3.9 39.8 5.6
(Poir.) DC. flowers
Melissa officinalis L. Leaves 90.4 3.2 n.i. 69.0 7.4 40.0 6.8
Trigonella foenum- Seed 92.3 3.3 10.4 5.6 5.9 2.4 13.5 4.1
graecum L.
Echium vulgare L. Herb 92.4 3.4 n.d. 71.7 8.9 17.7 3.4
Crataegus laevigata Accessory 93.2 1.1 n.i. 35.4 4.7 41.1 15.3
(Poir.) DC. fruit
Potentilla aurea L. Herb 93.3 7.9 58.3 7.3 85.9 8.5 65.3 2.4
Vaccinium myrtillus L. Fruit 96.8 0.8 68.5 1.2 56.9 3.1 42.7 3.7

MeOH, methanol.
n.d.: not determinable; n.i.: no inhibition; concentration (c) (methanolic/aqueous extract) = 2.5 mg/mL.

Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phytother. Res. 30: 260266 (2016)
264 T. BUCHHOLZ AND M. F. MELZIG
-Amylase inhibition. For the determination of -
amylase activity, the fluorescence-based EnzChek
Ultra Amylase Assay Kit (Life Technologies, Carlsbad,
CA, USA) was used. This in vitro enzyme assay is based
on the hydrolytic cleavage of a modified starch deriva-
tive. Twenty-five microliter of the sample solution (plant
extract dissolved in DMSO, final concentration in the
reaction mixture: 2.5 mg/mL) and 25 L -amylase solu-
tion (porcine pancreas powder prepared at 1.25 g/mL
in the same buffer as used in PL activity assay) were
mixed in a 96-well microtiter plate. The enzyme and
extract solutions were prepared immediately before
use. Then, 50 L of substrate solution (DQ starch from
corn, BODIPY FL conjugate, 200 g/mL) was added
to start the reaction. The accompanying increase in fluo-
rescence is proportional to amylase activity and was
monitored over 30 min at 37 C using a fluorescence
microplate reader (Em/Ex = 535/485). A 100% activity
control was applied. Acarbose was used as positive con-
trol in this study.
Calculation of results. The fluorescence of the samples
was corrected by subtracting the fluorescence of the
blank samples. Enzyme activity was defined as an
increase of fluorescence per minute. The inhibitory
activity of the extracts was defined as the difference be-
tween the enzyme activity in the 100% activity control
(no inhibitor added) and the enzyme activity in the
reaction mixture containing the extract, expressed as a
percentage of the enzyme activity of the positive con-
trol. The inhibitory activity was tested for each extract
in quadruplicate. The results are expressed as average
standard deviation.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of PL and -amylase inhibition by various
aqueous and methanolic plant extracts have been sum-
marized in Table 2. Lipase and -amylase inhibition is
expressed in percentage (%). A variety of the tested
plant extracts shows a strong inhibitory potential to the
digestive enzymes. The lipase inhibitory effect, as de-
scribed in the literature (Bustanji et al., 2010; Marrelli
et al., 2014), was confirmed for the plant extracts of
Echium vulgare L. (Boraginaceae, methanolic (MeOH)
extract: 92.4% inhibition), Mentha aquatica L.
(Lamiaceae, MeOH extract: 100% inhibition), and
Table 3. IC50 values (mg/mL) of the tested plant extracts (methanolic/aqueous) needed to inhibit pancreatic lipase and -amylase
IC50 (mg/mL) lipase
Scientific name Used part MeOH extract
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flowers 0.036 0.001
Mentha aquatica L. Leaves 0.076 0.002
Punica granatum L. Seed 0.109 0.012
Tamarindus indica L. Husk 0.152 0.007
Olea europaea L. Leaves 0.186 0.012
Punica granatum L. Husk 0.188 0.009
Rosmarinus officinalis L. Leaves 0.196 0.017
Peumus boldus Molina Leaves 0.217 0.015
MeOH, methanol.
Positive control: IC50 (orlistat): 0.19 0.03 ng/mL; IC50 (acarbose): 1.31 0.12 g/mL.
Copyright 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae, MeOH extract:
100% inhibition). Furthermore, the amylase inhibitory
effect could be confirmed for Cynara cardunculus L.
(Compositae, MeOH extract: 38.0% inhibition), Melissa
officinalis L (Lamiaceae, MeOH extract: 69.0%
inhibition), Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Leguminosae; MeOH
extract: 40.9% inhibition) and Tamarindus indica L.
(Leguminosae, MeOH extract: 100% inhibition)
(Barrett and Udani, 2011; Funke, 2007; Melzig and
Funke, 2007). For a number of plants, where the
mechanism of action is hardly known, an enzyme
inhibitory effect could be detected. The described blood
glucose-lowering effect (Banihani et al., 2013; Guillou
et al., 2012; Melzig and Funke, 2007; Panickar, 2013;
Schilcher et al., 2010) of Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae),
Peumus boldus MOLINA (Monimiaceae), Punica
granatum L. (Lythraceae), Trigonella foenum-graecum
L. (Leguminosae), and Vaccinium myrtillus L.
(Ericaceae) may be considered as interesting specimens
for further work as they have shown potentials for
invoking amylase inhibitor activity. Allium sativum L.
(Amaryllidaceae), Crataegus laevigata (POIR.) DC.
(Rosaceae), Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae), P.
granatum L. (Lythraceae), and Vitis vinifera L.
(Vitaceae) are able to lower TAG levels in the blood
(Banihani et al., 2013; Eidi et al., 2006; Graf et al.,
2010; Qidwai and Ashfaq, 2014). A possible explana-
tion, as shown in this study, is the inhibition of PL and
the associated reduction of lipid absorption.
Among the plant extracts examined, a lot of them
showed a high anti-lipase and anti-amylase activity at a
concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. A total of eight very active
plant extracts was selected and analyzed in terms of
their IC50 values. In Table 3, the IC50 values of the plant
extracts are reported. All tested extracts inhibited
enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. The meth-
anolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) was
the most effective PL inhibitor (IC50: 35.8 0.8 g/mL)
and -amylase inhibitor (IC50: 29.3 0.5 g/mL). Hibis-
cus sabdariffa is one of the traditional medical herbs
used in Asia, Africa, China, and India and commonly
used, among other things, as hypocholesterolemic agent
(Prez-Torres et al., 2013). The positive effect has
already been confirmed in numerous studies. An
inhibitory effect on pancreatic -amylase was described
by Adisakwattana et al. (2012). However, the calculated
IC50 value was quite high (IC50: 3.52 0.15 mg/mL), possi-
bly by an inadequate extraction. Also, Da-Costa-Rocha
et al. (2014) described in a comprehensive review, in
IC50 (mg/mL) lipase IC50 (mg/mL) -amylase IC50 (mg/mL) -amylase
aqueous extract MeOH extract aqueous extract
0.041 0.006 0.029 0.001 0.045 0.001
9.940 0.081 2.366 0.175 >10.0
2.261 0.372 1.101 0.034 4.282 0.067
0.212 0.002 0.168 0.009 0.139 0.009
6.772 0.479 0.852 0.413 4.551 0.051
0.188 0.014 0.240 0.009 0.605 0.075
4.598 0.645 0.818 0.047 5.092 0.152
2.268 0.171 1.525 0.056 2.142 0.501
Phytother. Res. 30: 260266 (2016)
 INHIBITION OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
addition to other effects, the anti-amylase activity of the
plant. Hibiscus acid was identified by Hansawasdi et al.
as an active inhibitor of H. sabdariffa (Hansawasdi et al.,
2000). Furthermore, there are already results from
in vivo studies. Gurrola-Daz et al. (2010) evaluate the ef-
fects of a H. sabdariffa extract powder on the lipid profiles
of individuals with and without metabolic syndrome. Pa-
tients treated with the extract had significantly reduced
glucose and total cholesterol levels as well increased
high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-c levels. Additionally, a
triglyceride-lowering effect was observed. A possible way
of action could be the inhibition of important digestive en-
zymes (PL, -amylase), as proven in this study. A second
very strong inhibition was shown by the extract of T. indica
L. (Leguminosae). Lipase inhibition of 50% was achieved
at a concentration of 0.152 0.007 mg/mL (methanolic ex-
tract). Amylase was inhibited strongly by the aqueous ex-
tract (IC50: 0.139 0.009 mg/mL). Tamarindus indica pulp
aqueous extract was investigated by Azman et al. (2012)
in an animal model. It was observed that the extract de-
creased the levels of total plasma cholesterol, low-density
lipoprotein and triglyceride, and increased HDL, with
the concomitant reduction of body weight.
The methanolic extract of M. aquatica L. (Lamiaceae)
also showed a strong inhibitory activity for PL (IC50:
0.076 0.002 mg/mL), but induced a much lower
inhibition of -amylase (IC50: 2.366 0.175 mg/mL).
These observations agree with the results of Marrelli
et al. (2014). Furthermore, the methanolic extract of
husks from P. granatum L. (Lythraceae) was also attrib-
uted with a strong inhibition of -amylase (IC50: 0.240
0.009 mg/mL). However, all tested extracts were less
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potent than the synthetic PL inhibitor orlistat (IC50:
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CONCLUSION
Inhibition of digestive enzymes is one of the most widely
studied mechanisms for the treatment of obesity and its
associated diseases. In this study, we screened 23 plants
extracts using fluorescence-based in vitro enzyme assays
in an attempt to provide a preliminary selection of
plants with potential PL and -amylase inhibitory activ-
ities for further consideration of more detailed research.
A total of eight very active plant extracts was selected
and analyzed in terms of their IC50 values. The metha-
nolic extract of H. sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) was the
most effective PL inhibitor (IC50: 35.8 0.8 g/mL) and
-amylase inhibitor (IC50: 29.3 0.5 g/mL) of the tested
plant extracts and represents a useful agent for the
prevention or treatment of obesity. However, further re-
search while considering the fractionation, concentra-
tion, and isolation-related options will be needed for
the development of new botanical resources with
respect to the treatment of obesity and associated
diseases.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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