Suppressive effects by leaves of the Dypsis lutescens palm on fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and fat absorption in mice.

The methanol extract of Dypsis lutescens leaves showed inhibitory effects on lipase activity in vitro and on triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Further experiments using the extract on mice demonstrated a suppressive effect on the postprandial elevation of blood triglyceride level and an anti-obesity effect on obese mice induced by a high-fat diet. D. lutescens will accordingly be useful for preventing obesity.

Effects of Anoectochilus formosanus on endurance capacity in mice.

The present study was designed to determine the effects of Anoectochilus formosanus exract (AFE) on endurance capacity in mice. Four wk-old male mice were given either a vehicle (distilled water) or AFE (500, 1,000 mg/kg) through stomach intubations for 4 wk. Mice were made to perform swimming exercises with weights attached to their tails corresponding to 10% of their body weight. Endurance capacity was evaluated by swimming time to exhaustion. The group treated with 1,000 mg/kg AFE showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in endurance performance time. The mice were made to swim for 15 min with loads corresponding to 5% of their body weight. In the 1,000 mg/kg body weight of AFE administration group, blood lactate concentration was significantly lower than in the control group. In the AFE administration group, the plasma non-esterfied fatty acid (NEFA) was significantly increased by swimming exercise. AFE treatment also significantly decreased fat accumulation. Liver and gastrocnemius muscle glycogen after 15 min of swimming remained at significantly higher levels in the mice fed 1,000 mg/kg of AFE as compared to the control group. These results suggest that AFE activated utilization of lipid more than glucose as the energy source for performance.

Suppressive effects of Anoectochilus formosanus extract on osteoclast formation in vitro and bone resorption in vivo.

Anoectochilus formosanus, a plant native to Taiwan, is used as a folk medicine. It was found that oral administration of A. formosanus extract (AFE) (500 mg/kg) for 4 weeks suppressed bone weight loss and trabecular bone loss in ovariectomized mice, an experimental model of osteoporosis. Although AFE at 12.5 and 25 mug/ml inhibited osteoclast formation in co-culture of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells, AFE did not inhibit the formation of osteoclast progenitor cells and preosteoclast cells in bone marrow cells and RAW264 cells. However, AFE (at 12.5 and 25 microg/ml) decreased RANKL expression. These results suggested that AFE might suppress the bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency through suppression of RANKL expression required for osteoclast formation.