Isolation and identification of anti-obesity and anti-adipogenic compounds from Thevetia peruviana

Thevetia peruviana has been used in Mexican traditional medicine for its slimming effects. Active fractions and compounds from T. peruviana were isolated and identified by means of gravitational open-column chromatography, and the fractions were evaluated on mice with MonoSodium Glutamate-induced obesity. Orlistat was used as positive control, and treatments were administered, orally, once a day for 8 weeks. The fraction with higher activity was sub-fractioned and, with the intention of avoiding using more mice, the fractions were analyzed by evaluating their capability to inhibit adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cell line. Animals treated with the F-B fraction revealed a significantly smaller weight increase and maintained adequate insulin sensitivity, and significantly lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The active compounds that demonstrated greatest adipogenesis inhibition were palmitic acid (1), oleic acid (2), octadecanoic acid (3), 2-palmitoyl glycerol (4), 2-oleoyl glycerol (5) and stigmastenone (6).