Chinese meidicine herbs help with weight loss and obesity

Chinese medicine has been proposed as a novel strategy for the prevention of metabolic disorders such as obesity. The present study tested 17 Chinese medicinal herbs were tested for their potential anti-obesity effects.

Ava Jiangyang Guo email, Roy Chi-yan Choi email, Anna Wing-han Cheung email, Jun Li email, Ivy Xiaoying Chen email, Tina Tingxia Dong email, Karl Wah-keung Tsim email and Brad Wing-chuen Lau email

Chinese Medicine 2009, 4:5doi:10.1186/1749-8546-4-5
Published:     26 March 2009

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Chinese medicine has been proposed as a novel strategy for the prevention of metabolic disorders such as obesity. The present study tested 17 Chinese medicinal herbs were tested for their potential anti-obesity effects.
Methods

The herbs were evaluated in terms of their abilities to stimulate the transcription of Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) in cultured Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes. The herbs that showed stimulating effects on ApoA-IV transcription were further evaluated in terms of their abilities to reduce the formation of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Results

ApoA-IV transcription was stimulated by Rhizoma Alismatis (Ze Xie) and Radix Angelica Sinensis (dang Gui) in a dose- and time-dependent manner in cultured Caco-2/TC7 cells. Moreover, these two herbs reduced the amount of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Conclusion

The results suggest that Rhizoma Alistmatis and Radix Angelica Sinensis may have potential anti-obesity effects as they stimulate ApoA-IV transcription and reduce triglyceride formation.