Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire

Natural extracts derived from plants have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents for obesity management. Some natural extracts were demonstrated to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha amylase, potentially influencing nutrient absorption and contributing to weight management. <i>Pinus...

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Main Authors: Mary Fucile, Carmine Lupia, Martina Armentano, Mariangela Marrelli, Ludovica Zicarelli, Claudia-Crina Toma, Giancarlo Statti, Filomena Conforti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/851
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author Mary Fucile
Carmine Lupia
Martina Armentano
Mariangela Marrelli
Ludovica Zicarelli
Claudia-Crina Toma
Giancarlo Statti
Filomena Conforti
author_facet Mary Fucile
Carmine Lupia
Martina Armentano
Mariangela Marrelli
Ludovica Zicarelli
Claudia-Crina Toma
Giancarlo Statti
Filomena Conforti
author_sort Mary Fucile
collection DOAJ
description Natural extracts derived from plants have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents for obesity management. Some natural extracts were demonstrated to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha amylase, potentially influencing nutrient absorption and contributing to weight management. <i>Pinus nigra</i> subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire, commonly known as the Calabrian pine or larch pine, is a subspecies of the black pine native to the mountains of southern Italy and Corsica. This study investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant (DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assays) and enzymatic (lipase and amylase inhibition) activities of ethanolic extracts from apical shoots and branches, fractionated into <i>n</i>-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. All the extracts were also subjected to a preliminary evaluation of their anti-inflammatory potential by measuring the ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The ethyl acetate branch fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 15.67 ± 0.16 μg/mL), while the total branch extract best inhibited pancreatic lipase (IC50 0.62 mg/mL). Amylase inhibition was strongest in the ethyl acetate apical shoot fraction (IC50 22.05 ± 0.29 µg/mL). The branches’ hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed the greatest anti-inflammatory potential, inhibiting NO production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values comparable to the positive control.
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spelling doaj-art-7064c86fa42645b69912ff2d46e3d24c2025-08-20T02:42:25ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-03-0114685110.3390/plants14060851Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) MaireMary Fucile0Carmine Lupia1Martina Armentano2Mariangela Marrelli3Ludovica Zicarelli4Claudia-Crina Toma5Giancarlo Statti6Filomena Conforti7Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyMediterranean Ethnobotanical Conservatory, 88054 Sersale, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Western University “Vasile Goldis” of Arad, L. Rebreanu Street, No. 87, 310048 Arad, RomaniaDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyNatural extracts derived from plants have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents for obesity management. Some natural extracts were demonstrated to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha amylase, potentially influencing nutrient absorption and contributing to weight management. <i>Pinus nigra</i> subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire, commonly known as the Calabrian pine or larch pine, is a subspecies of the black pine native to the mountains of southern Italy and Corsica. This study investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant (DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assays) and enzymatic (lipase and amylase inhibition) activities of ethanolic extracts from apical shoots and branches, fractionated into <i>n</i>-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. All the extracts were also subjected to a preliminary evaluation of their anti-inflammatory potential by measuring the ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The ethyl acetate branch fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 15.67 ± 0.16 μg/mL), while the total branch extract best inhibited pancreatic lipase (IC50 0.62 mg/mL). Amylase inhibition was strongest in the ethyl acetate apical shoot fraction (IC50 22.05 ± 0.29 µg/mL). The branches’ hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed the greatest anti-inflammatory potential, inhibiting NO production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values comparable to the positive control.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/851<i>Pinus</i>lipaseamylaseapical shootsbranches
spellingShingle Mary Fucile
Carmine Lupia
Martina Armentano
Mariangela Marrelli
Ludovica Zicarelli
Claudia-Crina Toma
Giancarlo Statti
Filomena Conforti
Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
Plants
<i>Pinus</i>
lipase
amylase
apical shoots
branches
title Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
title_full Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
title_fullStr Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
title_short Anti-Obesity and Weight Management-Related Antioxidant Potential Properties of Calabrian Pine Extracts: <i>Pinus nigra</i> Subsp. <i>laricio</i> (Poir.) Maire
title_sort anti obesity and weight management related antioxidant potential properties of calabrian pine extracts i pinus nigra i subsp i laricio i poir maire
topic <i>Pinus</i>
lipase
amylase
apical shoots
branches
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/851
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