Planta Med 2007; 73(12): 1255-1259
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-990223
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Constituents from the Leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Stimulate Lipolysis in the White Adipose Tissue of Mice

Emika Ohkoshi1 , 3 , Hiromi Miyazaki1 , Kazutoshi Shindo2 , Hiroyuki Watanabe1 , Aruto Yoshida1 , Hiroaki Yajima1
  • 1KIRIN Brewery Co., Ltd., Central Laboratories for Frontier Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
  • 2Department of Food and Nutrition, Japan Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan
  • 3Present address: The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ohu University, Fukushima, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 20, 2006 Revised: July 25, 2007

Accepted: August 20, 2007

Publication Date:
24 September 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaceae) has been used for various medicinal purposes as in Chinese herbal medicine. In particular, the leaves are known for diuretic and astringent properties, and are used to treat obesity. During our search for a plant-derived anti-obesity agent from natural products, we have found that a 50 % ethanol (EtOH) extract prepared from the leaves of N. nucifera (NN) stimulated lipolysis in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice and that the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) pathway was involved in this effect. In subsequent experiments, dietary supplementation of NN resulted in a significant suppression of body weight gain in A/J mice fed a high-fat diet. Bioassay-guided fractionation and repeated chromatography of NN has led to the isolation and identification of quercetin 3-O-α-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside (1), rutin (2), (+)-catechin (3), hyperoside (4), isoquercitrin (5), quercetin (6) and astragalin (7). Of these, compounds 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 exhibited lipolytic activity, especially in visceral adipose tissue. Our results indicate that the effects of NN in preventing diet-induced obesity appear to be due to various flavonoids and that the activation of β-AR pathway was involved, at least in part.

References

Dr. Hiroaki Yajima

Central Laboratories for Frontier Technology

1-13-5 Fukuura Kanazawa-ku

Yokohama-shi

Kanagawa 236-0004

Japan

Phone: +81-45-330-9004

Fax: +81-45-788-4047

Email: hyajima@kirin.co.jp