Screening of some medicinal plants for anti-lipase activity

In order to find new pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol lipase, EC 3.1.1.3) inhibitors from natural sources, 75 medicinal plants belonging to different families were screened for their anti-lipase activity, using a radioactive method. On evaluating the results, methanolic extracts of three plants namely, Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth, Orixa japonica Thunb. and Setaria italica (L.) Palib., exhibited strong in vitro anti-lipase activity (above 80%). These plants will be studied further to elucidate the structure and chemical properties of the active compound responsible for anti-lipase action. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.