Journal of Natural Remedis

41-48

Authors: Wahyu Widowati, Lusiana Darsono, Jo Suherman, Ervi Afifah, Rizal Rizal, Yukko Arinta, Rismawati Laila Qodariah, Tjandrawati Mozef, Tri Suciati

Obesity is one of the risk factor for dyslipidemia incident, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Treatment of obesity using common commercial drugs shows low rate of success, hence natural products may provide better or more efficient therapeutic approach. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) (Clusiaceae) peel extract contains xanthones and it is potentially used as alternative medicine for obesity. This research was done to determine the anti-obesity characteristics of Mangosteen Peel Extract (MPE) and its xanthones α-Mangostin (AM) and γ-Mangostin (GM) on 3T3L1 cell line. Anti-obesity effects of MPE and xanthones were investigated using differentiated-3T3L1 preadipocyte cells. Inhibitory activity of the extract and compounds on the production of Triglyceride (TG), Cholesterol (CHOL), Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, and lipid droplets were examined. MPE and its compound were capable to inhibit the production of TG, CHOL, G6PDH, lipid droplets. MPE 50 μg/mL and GM 75 μM were the most active to lower TG 57.95% and 59.72%, CHOL 33.33% and 31.68%, G6PDH 52.90%, 41.95%, lipid droplets 72.99% and 70.07% respectively. In conclusion mangosteen peel extract and γ-Mangostin are the most active antiobesity compared to α-Mangostin.

55-62

Authors: Lais Beltrao Magalhaes, Fernando Fonseca, Daniel Cubero, Auro Del Giglio

Previous studies in patients with advanced cancer have reported that Cat’s claw dry extract (Uncaria tomentosa) and Guarana (Paullinia cupana) showed beneficial effects in patients with terminal cancer. Our objective is to investigate the combined action of these extracts in the control of symptoms in these patients. This prospective, uncontrolled pilot study evaluated the use of 100 mg of U. tomentosa dry extract three times daily combined with 50 mg of P. cupana dry extract twice daily in terminal patients with solid tumors who were ineligible for traditional therapeutic approaches. Patients had blood collected and answered questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, FACIT-F, Chalder Fatigue Scale, HADS and PSQI-BR) before and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. Twenty-two volunteers were recruited; the mean age of the population was 68.3 years (range, 49-89 years), 86.3% were men, and half had a Karnofsky Index less than or equal to 60%. We observed improvement in fatigue, measured by the Chalder Scale (p = 0.0041), and nausea, measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale (p = 0.0470), without significant weight loss (p = 0.3883) or influence on quality of life as measured by the FACIT-F questionnaire (p = 0.3375). Medications were well tolerated by most participants. No significant reduction in inflammatory parameters was observed during the treatment. The combination of U. tomentosa and P. cupana extracts is safe and has potential benefits for the control of fatigue and nausea in terminal cancer patients.