Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Aloe Vera, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Curcuma Longa, Garcinia Cambogia, and Garcinia Mangostana Extracts in Lowering Body Weight in Obesity: A Literature Review

The habits of today's society, which are influenced by economic growth and globalization have brought new lifestyles, especially those related to diet, resulting in minimal physical activity accompanied by a high calorie intake. This energy imbalance can lead to the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, which is still a burden on the world today. Some plants in Indonesia are believed to help lose weight, such as Aloe vera, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Curcuma longa, Garcinia cambogia, and Garcinia mangostana. This literature review was conducted to determine the effects of Aloe vera, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Curcuma longa, Garcinia cambogia, and Garcinia mangostana on weight loss and preventing obesity. The review of twelve relevant articles concluded that Aloe vera, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Curcuma longa, Garcinia cambogia, and Garcinia mangostana have the potential to prevent and treat obesity but further research is required.

Cytochrome P450 and P-gp Mediated Herb-Drug Interactions and Molecular Docking Studies of Garcinol

Garcinol is an active constituent of Garcinia indica and Garcinia cambogia. Recent studies have proven that garcinol has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of garcinol on the activities of the drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes to predict potential herb-drug interactions with co-administered drugs. Garcinol was incubated with a mixture of rat liver microsomes and eight CYP probe substrate cocktail under optimized incubation conditions and the samples were analyzed using a validated method on LC-MS/MS. Garcinol showed strong inhibition with IC50 values of CYP1A2 (7.6 µM), CYP2C9 (8.0 µM), CYP2B6 (2.1 µM), CYP2D6 (9.5 µM), and CYP3A4 (5.1 µM), respectively, and moderate inhibition towards CYP2C19 (16.4 µM) and CYP2E1 (19.0 µM). Molecular docking studies were performed on garcinol against the active sites of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 proteins. These results further confirmed that the inhibitory activity of garcinol occurred by occupying the active sites of these human CYPs and by making favorable interactions with its key residues. In-vivo CYP inhibition studies were carried out in Sprague-Dawley rats. These results suggest garcinol may cause herb-drug interactions, mediated by inhibition of CYPs involved in drug metabolism in-vivo by altering the pharmacokinetic parameters like AUC and Cmax in a clinically significant manner. Garcinol was found to upregulate the expression and activity of P-gp in western blotting study and P-gp inhibition study in-vivo. These findings give a clear understanding to predict potential herb-drug/drug-drug interactions of garcinol for safe clinical use in future.

Garcinia camobogia extract alters anxiety, sociability, and dopamine turnover in male Swiss albino mice

Obesity is a global concern, closely allied with somatic and psychosomatic disorders. Herbal drugs are available in modern medicine to treat obesity. Garcinia camobogia being used by so many people trying to lose weight produces various systemic side effects. The study was conducted to assess its effect on anxiety, sociability, and dopamine turnover in male mice. Twenty-one male Swiss albino mice of either were divided into three groups with seven mice in each group. Control group was given distilled water (0.5 ml p.o.) and the other two groups received Garcinia cambogia extract at two different doses, a low and a higher dose (100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. p.o.) Each animal received a single oral dose daily, which was administered using an oral gavage for fourteen consecutive days. Effect of test drugs on anxiety was evaluated using open field test. Sociability and social novelty were evaluated using three chambers test. Results (mean ± SD) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s test. Garcinia cambogia extract significantly increased the time spent in the corners in the open field test, significantly reduced sociability and social novelty in the three-chamber test, significantly reduced dopamine turnover in the brain with a significant decrease in dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) and increased D2 receptor expression in ventral tegmental area. Garcinia cambogia extract have significant anxiogenic effect along with reduced sociability and social novelty in male mice. Moreover, these effects could be related to the altered dopamine turnover and D2 receptor expression in mice brain. Article Highlights Chronic used of alcoholic extract of Garcinia campbogia lead to a significant increase in anxiety that was manifested by the reduced time in the center zone and increased immobility in the open field test. Garcinia camobogia chronic administration has a profound impact on sociability and social novelty with a significant decrease in both behavioral patterns compared to the control group. These effects could be attributed to the noticed change in the dopamine turnover in the brain with a significant decrease in dopamine metabolite (HVA) and an upward expression of D2 receptors in return.

Garcinia Camobogia Extract Alters Anxiety, Sociability, and Dopamine Turnover in Male Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Obesity is a global concern, closely allied with somatic and psychosomatic disorders. Herbal drugs are available in modern medicine to treat obesity. Garcinia camobogia being used by so many people trying to lose weight produces various systemic side effects. The study was conducted to assess its effect on anxiety, sociability, and dopamine turnover in male mice. Methodology: Male Swiss albino mice of either were divided into three groups with seven mice in each group. Different groups were given distilled water (0.5ml p.o.) and Garcinia cambogia extract at two different doses (100mg/kg and 500 mg/kg p.o.). Effect of test drugs on anxiety was evaluated using open field test. Sociability and social novelty were evaluated using three chambers test. Results (mean ± standard deviation) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s test. Result: Garcinia cambogia extract significantly increased the time spent in the corners in the open field test, significantly reduced sociability and social novelty in the three chamber test, significantly reduced dopamine turnover and increased D2 receptor expression in ventral tegmental area. Conclusion: Garcinia cambogia extract have significant anxiogenic effect along with reduced sociability and social novelty in male mice. Moreover, these effects could be related to the altered dopamine turnover and D2 receptor expression in mice brain.

Effects of Garcinia Cambogia on the Weights of Normal Albino Mice

Aim: Effects of available weight reducing drugs on the weights of a normal albino mice. Methodology: In this study, total 39 adult albino mice were used and were divided in three groups containing 13 animals in each. Group I served as control and was given 1 ml of distilled water once a day for 8 weeks. Group II and Group III served as experimental group and mice in these groups were given 0.5 mg of Slim Smart and Ultra Slim Plus drugs dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water respectively once a day for 8 weeks. To support these results weights of kidneys were also measured and relative tissue width index was calculated and compared with control group. Results: The weight of the animals increased in the experimental groups as compared to the control group. The overall difference for final weight among three groups was highly significant with p-value <0.01. When final weight compared group wise, the experimental groups had significantly higher weight as compared to control with p-values <0.01and 0.028 Conclusion: Both Ultra Slim Plus and Slim Smart drugs cause weight to increase in the individuals who are not obese and have BMI in normal range Keywords: Weight loss, Garcinia Cambodia, kidney, Albino mice

A critical scientific review on Withania somnifera, Garcinia cambogia and Curcumin supplements: Food forensics perspective

: Food forensics is an emerging branch that applies scientific knowledge for the verification and authentication of food supplements. The term “dietary supplement” refers to a diverse set of preparations that are deemed to be essential for the well-being of a human body. These supplements consist of various physiologically active substances that produce effects on the body. However, a major issue with these supplements is that they are neither considered as medicines, nor as a food product. Due to this, such food supplements are prone to adulteration and counterfeiting. In this review, three widely used supplements, namely Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Garcinia cambogia supplements are considered. Chemistry, pharmacology, and benefits of three are being discussed along with the analytical techniques for their analysis. Chromatographic techniques are popular for the examination of dietary supplements. Several such analytical techniques are being used to detect and identify the physiologically active constituents as well as adulterants in dietary products. This review intends to demonstrate the overall issues regarding dietary supplements.

Arousal-Inducing Effect of Garcinia cambogia Peel Extract in Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep Test and Electroencephalographic Analysis

Caffeine, a natural stimulant, is known to be effective for weight loss. On this basis, we screened the arousal-inducing effect of five dietary supplements with a weight loss effect (Garcinia cambogia, Coleus forskohlii, Camellia sinensis L., Irvingia gabonensis, and Malus pumila M.), of which the G. cambogia peel extract (GC) showed a significant arousal-inducing effect in the pentobarbital-induced sleep test in mice. This characteristic of GC was further evaluated by analysis of electroencephalogram and electromyogram in C57L/6N mice, and it was compared to that of the positive control, caffeine. Administration of GC (1500 mg/kg) significantly increased wakefulness and decreased non-rapid eye movement sleep, similar to that of caffeine (25 mg/kg), with GC and caffeine showing a significant increase in wakefulness at 2 and 6 h, respectively. Compared to that of caffeine, the shorter duration of efficacy of GC could be advantageous because of the lower possibility of sleep disturbance. Furthermore, the arousal-inducing effects of GC (1500 mg/kg) and caffeine (25 mg/kg) persisted throughout the chronic (3 weeks) administration study. This study, for the first time, revealed the arousal-inducing effect of GC. Our findings suggest that GC might be a promising natural stimulant with no side effects. In addition, it is preferential to take GC as a dietary supplement for weight loss during the daytime to avoid sleep disturbances owing to its arousal-inducing effect.