Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer
Obesity and its associated complications, including oxidative stress, pose significant global health challenges. Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the potential of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Me...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Jinfeng Yang Wenxuan Jiang Ju Hee Park Eun Soo Seong Yong Soo Kwon Myong Jo Kim |
| author_facet | Jinfeng Yang Wenxuan Jiang Ju Hee Park Eun Soo Seong Yong Soo Kwon Myong Jo Kim |
| author_sort | Jinfeng Yang |
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| description | Obesity and its associated complications, including oxidative stress, pose significant global health challenges. Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the potential of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer, a traditional medicinal plant known for its antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. A methanol extract of <i>Panax japonicus</i> and its fractions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities (tested using DPPH and reducing power assays), pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory capacities, and underlying mechanisms of action. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of <i>P. japonicus</i> (PJEA) exhibited the greatest potency, demonstrating strong antioxidant activity and significantly inhibiting digestive enzyme activity (pancreatic lipase). Mechanistic studies revealed that the PL inhibition was of a mixed type, combining both competitive and non-competitive mechanisms. Furthermore, PJEA demonstrated the ability to inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes, primarily exerting its anti-adipogenic effects by downregulating the mRNA expression of PPARγ and the gene expression of C/EBPα. In addition, the extract suppressed the gene expression of FAS and ACC in adipose tissue. Isolation of the bioactive compounds from PJEA identified kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside and catechin, which potentially contribute to the observed anti-obesity effects. Overall, this study highlights <i>P. japonicus</i> as a promising natural ingredient for scavenging free radicals and managing obesity, suggesting its potential for development into functional foods or therapeutic agents. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ef80569505c4e53b93d58988c536a072025-08-20T03:50:16ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011413200310.3390/plants14132003Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. MeyerJinfeng Yang0Wenxuan Jiang1Ju Hee Park2Eun Soo Seong3Yong Soo Kwon4Myong Jo Kim5Research Institute of Food Science & Engineering Technology, Hezhou University, Hezhou 542899, ChinaCollege of Biological & Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou 545006, ChinaDepartment of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaBioherb Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaObesity and its associated complications, including oxidative stress, pose significant global health challenges. Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the potential of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer, a traditional medicinal plant known for its antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. A methanol extract of <i>Panax japonicus</i> and its fractions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities (tested using DPPH and reducing power assays), pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory capacities, and underlying mechanisms of action. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of <i>P. japonicus</i> (PJEA) exhibited the greatest potency, demonstrating strong antioxidant activity and significantly inhibiting digestive enzyme activity (pancreatic lipase). Mechanistic studies revealed that the PL inhibition was of a mixed type, combining both competitive and non-competitive mechanisms. Furthermore, PJEA demonstrated the ability to inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes, primarily exerting its anti-adipogenic effects by downregulating the mRNA expression of PPARγ and the gene expression of C/EBPα. In addition, the extract suppressed the gene expression of FAS and ACC in adipose tissue. Isolation of the bioactive compounds from PJEA identified kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside and catechin, which potentially contribute to the observed anti-obesity effects. Overall, this study highlights <i>P. japonicus</i> as a promising natural ingredient for scavenging free radicals and managing obesity, suggesting its potential for development into functional foods or therapeutic agents.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2003obesityantioxidant<i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyerpancreatic lipase |
| spellingShingle | Jinfeng Yang Wenxuan Jiang Ju Hee Park Eun Soo Seong Yong Soo Kwon Myong Jo Kim Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer Plants obesity antioxidant <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer pancreatic lipase |
| title | Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer |
| title_full | Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer |
| title_short | Antioxidant and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Activities of <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer |
| title_sort | antioxidant and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities of i panax japonicus i t nees c a meyer |
| topic | obesity antioxidant <i>Panax japonicus</i> (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer pancreatic lipase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2003 |
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