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Comparison of the weight-decreasing effects of different herbs with a mixture of herbal extracts exerting a probable synergistic effect
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether an interaction between different herbal extracts (green tea, Coleus forskohlii, yerba maté, Betula alba) can take place and whether their combination could be more effective in terms of reducing body weight gain than each of the extracts alone.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. Sixty rats were treated with different herbal extracts for 12 weeks. Their body weight and food intake was measured weekly.
RESULTS. The mixture of herbs leads to a significantly lower body weight increase and lower food intake. The effect of separate herbs was found to be relatively small, a significantly higher weight-increase inhibiting effect was found when using a mixture of herbal extracts.
CONCLUSIONS. A synergic interaction between the components of a herbal mixture is suggested as a possible explanation for the above findings. The probable working mechanism can involve the different modes of action described for the components of the mixture of herb extracts. These mechanisms can involve a decrease in noradrenaline breakdown and an increase in thermogenesis, together with an antioxidative effect and suppressive effect on NFkB activity. The inhibition of adipocyte proliferation and an anorectic effect influencing food intake have also been described for the ingredients included in the mixture. It is suggested that the mixture of different plant extracts can exert several of these effects working in synergy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether an interaction between different herbal extracts (green tea, Coleus forskohlii, yerba maté, Betula alba) can take place and whether their combination could be more effective in terms of reducing body weight gain than each of the extracts alone.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. Sixty rats were treated with different herbal extracts for 12 weeks. Their body weight and food intake was measured weekly.
RESULTS. The mixture of herbs leads to a significantly lower body weight increase and lower food intake. The effect of separate herbs was found to be relatively small, a significantly higher weight-increase inhibiting effect was found when using a mixture of herbal extracts.
CONCLUSIONS. A synergic interaction between the components of a herbal mixture is suggested as a possible explanation for the above findings. The probable working mechanism can involve the different modes of action described for the components of the mixture of herb extracts. These mechanisms can involve a decrease in noradrenaline breakdown and an increase in thermogenesis, together with an antioxidative effect and suppressive effect on NFkB activity. The inhibition of adipocyte proliferation and an anorectic effect influencing food intake have also been described for the ingredients included in the mixture. It is suggested that the mixture of different plant extracts can exert several of these effects working in synergy.
Keywords
obesity; green tea; Coleus forskohlii; /i> ; yerba maté; Betula alba
About this articleTitle
Comparison of the weight-decreasing effects of different herbs with a mixture of herbal extracts exerting a probable synergistic effect
Journal
Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Issue
Pages
137-142
Published online
2008-10-31
Page views
796
Article views/downloads
2198
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol. Otył. Zab. Przem. Mat 2008;4(4):137-142.
Keywords
obesity
green tea
Coleus forskohlii
/i>
yerba maté
Betula alba
Authors
Marcin Krotkiewski
Radosław Janiak