Strobilanthes crispus Extract Reduces Respiratory Exchange Ratio in Obese Mice Fed High Fat and Low Fat Diets

BACKGROUND: Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) leaves were traditionally consumed for its body weight lowering effect. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of S. crispus leaves extract (SCE). METHODS: Mice (n = 48) were fed high-fat diet (HFD) for 25 weeks to induce obesity, after which half were maintained on HFD and half switched to low-fat diet (LFD)while they were given normal water (H(2)O) or 0.1% (w/v) SCE in water at week 0–4 which was increased to 1% (w/v) at week 5–9. Effects of treatment with SCE were compared between HFDH(2)O, HFDSCE, LFDH(2)O and LFDSCE groups. Respiratory exchange ratios (RER) were measured at weeks 0, 5 and 10. Food, water intake and body weight were measured weekly. Plasma lipid profile and organ weights were determined at week 10. RESULTS: SCE had significantly reduced RER at week 9 (P = 0.011). Food intake, body weight, and abdominal adipose tissue weight were not altered by SCE at weeks 5 and 10. However, significant increase in plasma and liver cholesterol (P < 0.050) was observed. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that SCE induced lipolysis and body fat oxidation and increased energy expenditure. Further studies in other animal models should be done to confirm the consistency of these results.