Supplementation of Heliotropium indicum Linn attenuates obesity and associated metabolic disorders in high-carbohydrate-high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Heliotropium indicum Linn is a leafy vegetable that has been used in Bangladeshi ethnomedicinal practices. The attenuation effect of H. indicum supplementation was evaluated in high carbohydrate high-fat (HCHF) diet-induced obesity and associated disorders in 8-weeks-old female Wister rats. H. indicum significantly (p < .05) prevented weight gain and improved glucose intolerance in obese rats. It also significantly (p < .05) ameliorated lipid parameters in HCHF diet fed rats preventing hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, resulting in improved the artherogenic index (AI). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were brought to normal by H. indicum. It significantly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as increased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver. The intense liver fat deposition was seen in HCHF fed rats which were relatively low in H. indicum fed rats. Therefore, H. indicum has the ability to prevent obesity and associated metabolic disorders. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are the most common threats to public health. Modern lifestyle and food habits are the main causes behind this malice, and the introduction of functional foods in daily diet is proved to be highly beneficial. Results of this study demonstrated that H. indicum can effectively attenuate obesity and its associated metabolic complications. Therefore, the current study has the merits to promote scientific knowledge of the dietary application of H. indicum as a functional food among the community.

Antibacterial activity of Cordia dentata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn and Momordica charantia Linn from the Northern Colombian Coast / Actividad antibacterial de Cordia dentata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn y Momordica charantia Linn de la costa norte de Colombia

SUMMARY Cordia dendata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn and Momordica charantia Linn are used for treatment of the most common human diseases and health disorders in folk medicine of the population from the northern Colombian coast. In this study, chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract and fractions from C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia were investigated. The chemical constituents of qualitative detection were examined by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The antibacterial activity was determined by agar gel diffusion and broth microdilution method. The main identified compounds were flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins and coumarins. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 31.25 to 1000 µg /mL for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. These results indicated that ethanol extract and fractions from C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia significantly inhibited the growth of standard strains. Potent antibacterial activities of C. dentata, H. indicum and M. charantia may be considered in future study, particularly against antibiotic-resistant cases.

RESUMEN Cordia dendata Poir, Heliotropium indicum Linn y Momordica charantia Linn son usadas para el tratamiento de las enfermedades más comunes y trastornos de salud en la medicina popular de la población de la costa norte de Colombia. En este estudio se investigó la composición química y la actividad antibacterial de los extractos etanólicos y fracciones de C. dentata, H. indicum y M. charantia. Los constituyentes químicos se examinaron por detección cualitativa cromatografía de capa fina (TLC, por sus siglas en inglés). La actividad antibacterial se determinó por difusión en agar y microdilución en caldo. Los mayores compuestos identificados fueron flavonoides, glucósidos cardiotónicos, alcaloides, saponinas, terpenoides, taninos y cumarinas. La concentración inhibitoria mínima (MIC, por sus siglas en inglés) fue de 31,25 a 1000 /µg/mL para bacterias Gram-positivas y Gram-negativas, respectivamente. Estos resultados indican que el extracto etanólico y las fracciones de C. dentata, H. indicum y M. charantia inhibieron de manera significa el crecimiento de las cepas estándar. La potente actividad antibacterial de C. dentata, H. indicum y M. charantia puede considerarse en posteriores estudios, en particular frente a casos de antibióticos resistentes.