Introduction: Obesity is associated with chronic activation of low-grade inflammation produced mainly from
adipose tissue, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Consequently, there is a need to screen
for new anti-obesity medicines. Clinical evidence regarding the anti-obesity properties of Curcuma longa L.
(C. longa) is inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate for the first time the influence of curcuminoids and
hexane extract derived from C. longa 1) On the release of pro-inflammatory adipokines from human abdominal
subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) and induced-mononuclear cells (iMC) and 2) On the activities of α-amylase,
α-glucosidase, and lipase enzymes.
Methods: ASAT explants and lipopolysaccharide-iMC were treated with either curcuminoids or hexane extract of
C. longa. Protein concentration, anti-lipase, anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase activities were evaluated
employing colorimetric methods.
Results: Treatment of ASAT with curcuminoids or hexane extract inhibited the secretion of leptin, CCL5 and Il-1β.
Treatment of iMC cells with curcuminoids or hexane extract inhibited the secretion of TNF-α, CCL5 and Il-1β and
leptin was not detected. Curcuminoids possessed a significant inhibitory activity against lipase, α-amylase and
α-glucosidase in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion: We demonstrate for the first time that curcuminoids and C. longa exert anti-inflammatory properties
on human ASAT and iMC and inhibit the activities of lipase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. This suggests
that C. longa and curcuminoids not only may ameliorate obesity-associated comorbidities such as metabolic
syndrome but may be used as a preventive approach against obesity. However, this requires in vivo validation.

Title

European Journal of Integrative Medicine

Publisher

Elsevier

Publisher Country

Netherlands

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

1.3

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

48

Year

2021

Pages

101400