Anti-Obesity Constituents in Ginkgo biloba Extract

Abstract

Obesity is a complex health condition characterized by an excess accumulation of body fat. It is associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. While lifestyle modifications, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, are fundamental components of obesity management, several researchers explore complementary and alternative approaches, such as herbal medicine. Zhang and colleagues demonstrated a case study for uncovering the anti-obesity constituents in an anti-obesity herbal medicine (Ginkgo biloba extract) and deciphering their synergistic effects via targeting human pancreatic lipase (hPL). After screening eighty medicinal plants, they found that the most potent anti-hPL activity was possessed by Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE50).  They isolated thirty-eight compounds and found that several of them were potent hPL inhibitors showing IC₅₀ values <2.5 μM). Docking studies found that sciadopitysin, bilobetin, isoginkgetin, and ginkgetin) could tightly bind on hPL at cavity 2, which is different from the binding cavity of quercetin on hPL. After further experiments they found that sciadopitysin or bilobetin in combination with quercetin showed synergistic anti-hPL effects, suggesting that the multi-components in GBE50 may generate a more potent anti-hPL effect. They concluded that anti-obesity constituents in GBE50, act synergistically at the molecular level, which will be very helpful for further understanding the anti-obesity mechanisms of Ginkgo biloba. Fitoterapia. 2023 Dec:171:105669.  doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105669.