Leopoldia comosa prevents metabolic disorders in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

PURPOSE: Obesity is the main feature of a complex illness known as metabolic syndrome. Anti-obesogenic therapies are often associated with side effects and represent a high cost in conventional pharmacological approaches. New strategies based on natural remedies are under continuous investigation. Leopoldia comosa (L.) Parl. (L. comosa) is a spontaneous plant with diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Recently, a hypoglycemic activity mediated by inhibition of carbohydrate digestion has been identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a diet supplemented with L. comosa extracts on a rat model of diet-induced obesity.

METHODS: Leopoldia comosa bulb extracts were obtained using a dynamic extractor. Phytochemical properties and in vitro determination of the antioxidant activity and of the inhibitory effects on lipase and pancreatic amylase were performed. Rats were fed (12 weeks) a standard diet, or a high-fat diet (HFD), or an HFD plus L. comosa (20 or 60 mg/die) extracts. The metabolic and anthropometric parameters were recorded.

RESULTS: Results indicated that L. comosa inhibited lipase and pancreatic amylase activities. In vivo data showed that the supplementation with both doses of L. comosa extracts counteracted the HFD-dependent effects. It reduced body weight, abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia, and improved glucose tolerance with a reduction of lipidic tissue hypertrophy and liver steatosis, as compared to HFD-fed rat. In liver, L. comosa reduced protein expression levels of PEPCK and G6Pase.

CONCLUSION: We suggest that L. comosa extracts prevent obesity-dependent metabolic disorders. This paves the way for their therapeutic application as a natural anti-obesity drug.