In this study, American and South Korean researchers isolated cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonists that can suppress the appetite from Morus alba. Their findings regarding the compounds’ anti-obesity effects were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.
- The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly worldwide, making the disease a global health burden with limited treatment options.
- Research on anti-obesity drugs suggests the possibility of reducing weight and reversing obesity-induced metabolic disturbances by controlling the appetite.
- After screening more than 8000 medicinal plants, the researchers found M. alba (white mulberry) to be a potential source of CB1 receptor agonists.
- Kuwanon G and Albanin G from the root-barks of M. alba exhibited 92 percent and 96 percent CB1 receptor ligand-binding inhibitory activities, respectively.
- The researchers then tested the M. alba root-bark extract in an acute food intake study involving rats. They administered the extract at oral doses of 250 and 500?mg/kg and evaluated its ability to suppress the appetite.
- To assess the extract’s long-term food intake reduction activity and effect on weight, they administered the extract using the same oral doses to C57BL/6J mice with diet-induced obesity for seven weeks.
- The researchers reported statistically significant and dose-dependent reductions in food intake in both the acute and long-term studies.
- Specifically, they noted food intake reductions of 58.6 percent and 44.8 percent at 250?mg/kg, and 50.1 percent and 44.3 percent at 500?mg/kg, one and two hours after food provision, respectively.
- In the long-term study, the researchers observed a 20 percent decrease in the animals’ daily calorie intake.
- Obese mice treated with high-dose M. alba root-bark extract lost 10.4 g (22.5 percent) body weight after seven weeks.
- The extract also caused statistically significant reductions in biochemical markers of obesity and visceral fat deposit.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that white mulberry extracts rich in Kuwanon G and Albanin G can be used to control appetite, manage body weight and treat the metabolic syndrome in obese subjects.
Journal Reference:
Yimam M, Jiao P, Hong M, Brownell L, Lee YC, Kim HJ, Nam JB, Kim MR, Jia Q. MORUS ALBA, A MEDICINAL PLANT FOR APPETITE SUPPRESSION AND WEIGHT LOSS. Journal of Medicinal Food. 10 July 2019;22(7):741–751. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0142