Inhibition of pancreatic lipase by extracts of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC., Asteraceae: evaluation of antinutrients and effect on glycosidases

ABSTRACT

In order to confirm the traditional use of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC., Asteraceae, for the reduction of weight, plant extracts were evaluated on the activity of pancreatic lipase (PL), an enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of triacylglycerols in the diet for its subsequent absorption. The aqueous and infused extracts did not show inhibitory activity on the PL, the ethanol inhibited 16 percent (66 ALI/g) and methanol extract inhibited 78 percent (241 ALI/g). The methanol extract of B. trimera (MEB) was subjected to a wash with decreasing solvent polarity (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) and only the methanol fraction inhibited the lipase by 72 percent (230 ALI/g). We evaluated the MEB and infused inhibitory activity on the enzymes α-amylase and α and β-glycosidases. The α-amylase was not inhibited by any of the extracts, the enzyme α-glucosidase was inhibited by both extracts in the same proportion (46.9±0.1) and β-glucosidase was inhibited by 73 percent by the methanol extract and 65 percent by the infused. We also evaluated the presence of anti-nutrients. We detected the presence of saponins, polyphenols and trypsin inhibitors in the two samples. Tests performed in vivo can assess at which therapeutic concentration the presence of these anti-nutrients can be harmful to health.