RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Coleus aromaticus, commonly called country borage or Indian borage, is a perennial herb grown throughout the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, the leaves of the plant are used as a cure for cold, cough, and fever as well as to relieve pain from skin irritations. However, the appetite-enhancing potential of the herb was unexplored. Based on the encouraging results of animal studies, this study was taken up to establish the appetite-enhancing potential of Coleus aromaticus in humans by evaluating its ready-to-drink beverage. METHODS: A homogenous and healthy group of volunteers was selected. Ready-to-drink beverages based on the herb karpurvalli (Coleus aromaticus) containing three different concentrations (12% [sensorily optimized level], 18%, and 24%) of the herb juice and a placebo beverage were evaluated with the volunteers. The fasting and postprandial levels of plasma leptin were measured, and the appetite rating on a structured visual analog scale was obtained. RESULTS: The study revealed a significant reduction in leptin levels with 12% juice, whereas a significant increase was seen after consumption of the beverage containing 24%. A similar pattern was obtained with the structured ratings. CONCLUSION: The appetite-enhancing effect of the beverage was best when it contained the sensorily optimized level of karpurvalli juice and confirms the results obtained in animal study. To our knowledge, this is the first study validating the appetite-enhancing potential of the herb.