International Journal of Drug Development and Research

Keywords

Herbal drugs, Obesity, Weight management, Phytochemicals

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a serious health concern in developed and developing countries.it leads to cardiovascular disease &diabetes mellitus, certain type of cancer ,chronic insomnia,osteo arthritis and depression. Hence the use of herbal products to reduce the cholesterol level has been launched.Generally obesity is confirmed by calculating Body mass index(BMI). If BMI is 25-29.9 it is considered as over weight.A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. The typically effective methods in treating obesity & maintain a healthy body weight is obtained by exercise and proper diet .In spite of that certain herbal treatments might help.

Current treatment of weight loss is done by drugs like orlistat ,sibutramine which are anorectic agents with appetite suppressor activity. However studies have been done to evaluate its efficacy for weight management.

Orlistat is only drug approved by FDA for long term administration for weight loss ,though it reduces weight effectively, several side effects are observed with orlistat like oily faecal spotting, abdominal pain, and flatus with discharge, faecal urgency, fatty/oily stool, increased defecation, and faecal incontinence .5 Another centrally acting antiobesity agent sibutramine which produces unwanted side effects such as inability to sleep, constipation,dry mouth,increased heartbeat, increased blood pressure, awareness of the heartbeat (palpitations), headache, anxiety, and dizziness.

Herbal supplements have been extensively consumed by people to reduce there weight effectively since decades.Some of the toxic herbs present in the herbal supplements may be responsible in causing hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.Hence caution should be exercised before administering any weight loss products .

Many literature survey was done related to the efficacy of herbal products in weight loss.Most of the articles reveals the use of green tea, guggul ,psyllium,triphala,garcinia cambogia and many spices etc.

Our literature survey has implemented for the first time to report the use of certain herbal products like Erythrina varigata ,Erythrina indica,Hemidesmus indicus extract,Hoodia gordonii extract,Gymnema sylvestere,Caralluma fimbriata ,Ginseng for weight loss in obese patients.The pharmacological aspects and anti hyperlipidemic effects of these herbs are extensively reviewed.

Obesity management:

Erythrina variegata

Common name: Coral tree, Indian coral tree, tiger's-claw

Phytoconstituents: Alkaloids, flavonoids, pterocarpans, triterpenes, steroids, alkyl transferulates, proteins are founds in the genus. Erythrina variegata is used to control obesity.in addition to that the different parts of the plant is used in treatment of cough,fever ,bacterial infections ,common cold,asthma,CNS disorders like insomnia and epilepsy. The leaves are commonly mixed with castor oil to treat dysentery,used externally to relieve rheumatic joints,Bark is used as an diuretic ,laxative,expectorant.

E.variegata is used as an anti caries agent to prevent dental caries. It acts as an analgesic and antiinflammatory agent,It is a good antioxidant and it has smooth muscle relaxant property ,potent drug to treat osteoporosis.7 G. Balamurugan8 conducted a research study on methanolic seed extract of Erythrina variegata to evaluate the anti hyperlipidaemic activity in reducing the cholesterol levels in wistar rat.. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract were evaluated for its effect on lipid profile, HMG-CoA reductase, and antioxidant enzymes in high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia. The elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, lowdensity lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein due to HFD was reduced by concurrent treatment with the extract given. Increase in the body weight and mesenteric fat pad weight in HFD fed group (P<0.001)were noticed, which was reduced by the administration of the herbal extract (200 and 400 mg/kg). The antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were reduced significantly in the HFD fed group, whose levels were increased significantly (P<0.001) by the administration of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg). Lipid peroxidation was increased in HFD fed animals, which was reduced significantly (P<0.001) by the treatment with the erythrina variegata extract (200 and 400 mg/kg).

Hoodia gordonii extract

Common name: cactus of the dessert

Active ingredient for anti-obesity activity: P 57

H.gordonii is a succulant plant native to south africa. The flowers smell like rotten meat and are pollinated mainly by flies. The use of Hoodia spp. has long been known by the indigenous populations of Southern Africa, who infrequently use these plants for treating indigestion and minor infections. 9,10 The pregnane glycosides in Hoodia exert appetitesuppressant effects via enhanced hypothalamic signaling ,The in vivo anti-obesity effect of H. gordonii has been studied in rats and chickens. The first scientific reports of antiobesity activity were done by Tulp et al.11Experiments performed and included in a US patent application revealed a reduction in food intake, increased water consumption, reduced mean body mass gain, and body mass loss in some of the groups.

Studies concluded that P57 has a likely mechanism of action in the central nervous system as suggested by the effects on the hypothalamic neurons and hypothalamus, as the hypothalamus is an area of the brain involved in the control of hunger, appetite, and temperature control. 12-14However, this doesnot exclude any peripheral mechanisms of action . In vivo results based on studies done in obese males revealed that reduction in food intake,bodyweight ,blood glucose and triglycerides.S Another study reported the use of DLE-X capsule containing hoodia extract in overweight subjects reduced the body weight and reduces the calorie intake.

A research published , phytopharm in 18 morbidly obese individuals, it was a double blind study where half of the volunteers had Hoodia Gordonii extract, and half consumed only a placebo, without either group knowing which they were getting. Other than the administration of the extract and the placebo, the volunteers were informed to carry on with what they usually did like eating, reading books, watching television, and sleeping.15

Results concluded that there would be a loss of a considerable two pounds per week at the rate that the calorie intake was reduced, and this was achieved without feeling any hunger, or changing the lifestyle of the subject.16.17

Hemidesmusindicus

Common name: Indian Sarsaparilla

Hemidesmusindicus is a twining shrub, belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae.

Roots of this taxon has been used in folk medicine as well as in ayurvedic and unani preparations. They have been prescribed against the diseases of blood, inflammation, diarrhoea, respiratory disorders, skin diseases, syphilis, fever, bronchitis, asthma, eye diseases, epileptic fits in children, kidney and urinary disorders, loss of appetite, burning sensation and rheumatism. It has also been used in combination with other drugs for snake bite.18-20

Study reported by Gayathrimahalingam in Hemidesmusindicus root extracts in sreptozotocin induced diabetic rats.,the levels of serum lipids in control and in diabetic rats at the end of 12 weeks of treatment period. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly ( F > 0.05; P < 0.001) elevated in diabetic rats with decreased HDL cholesterol level. Oral administration of H. indicus aqueous extract brought back the levels of serum lipids to near normal.21

Gymnema sylvestere

Common name:Periploca of the woods, gudmar

Gymnema sylvestre promotes weight loss and control blood sugar levels.many literature studies reveals the anti obesity activity of Gymnema sylvestre.22

Supplementation with gymnemate extracted from Gymnema sylvestreis a novel therapeutic tool for weight management. It has been checked on Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats which have shown a decrease in food and water intake by 1/3 and 2/3 respectively, along with a body weight reduction during 1 and 2 weeks respectively. GSx has found to suppress body weight gain in rats fed on high fat diet to the same levelas chitosan . The efficiency of GSx on body weight, body mass index (BMI) and appetite were monitored moderately obese human volunteers. 23,24

The group administered with a combination of HCASX (hydroxycitric acid), NBC (niacin-bound chromium) and GSx (400mg, providing 100 mg gymnemic acid) has shown a reduction in body weight and BMI by7.8% and 7.9%, respectively. Besides, the food intake has reduced by 14.1% . Studies have been conducted to determine the weight-loss effects of Calorie-Careâ„¢, a dietary supplement containingGymnema sylvestrein addition to glucomannan, chitosan, fenugreek,and vitamin C. The novel combination has resulted in significant body weight and fat loss in obese adults.25,26

Caralluma fimbriata

Common name:caralluma

Many species of Caralluma are commonly used as traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, leprosy, paralysis, and inflammation and have antimalarial, antitrypanosomal, anti-ulcer, antioxidant, antinociceptive, and antiproliferative activities. The genus is known for compounds like pregnane glycosides, flavonoid glycoside, flavones, magastigmane glycosides, pregnane steroids, steroidal glycosides, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aromatic and nonaromatic volatile compounds, and M-sitosterol. An extract of C. fimbriata (Slimaluna(®), Gencor Nutrients, Anaheim, CA, USA) is used as an anti obesity agent and appetite suppressor. It is also seen that the pregnane glycosides isolated and identified from African Hoodia are reported as anti-obesity and appetite-suppressant compounds.27

Caralluma fimbriata, a traditional Indian “famine food” with no history of adverse effects, which also contains pregnane glycosides . This study evaluated the extract of C. fimbriata (CFE, Slimaluma.) for appetite suppressing, antiobesogenic and antiatherogenic properties in the DIO rat model. Study reported by Soundararajan kamala kannan et al in caralluma fimbriata extract(CFE) states that The Diet-Induced Obesity (DIO) rat model showed CFE's anorexigenic effects on investigation. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: (i) untreated control (C), (ii) control for cafeteria diet (CA), and (iii) cafeteria diet fed + CFE treated. Rats in the test group received cafeteria diet and CFE from day one onwards. CFE was administered by gavage at three doses (25, 50, 100 mg/Kg BW per day) for 90 days.28

The antiobesogenic effects of CFE were evaluated by monitoring changes in feed intake, body weight, serum lipid and hormonal (leptin) profiles, fat pads, and liver weight. Antiatherosclerotic effects were measured by histology. CFE induced significant and dose-dependent inhibition of food intake, with doserelated prevention of gains in body weight, liver weight, and fat pad mass. Alterations in serum lipid profiles associated with weight gain were similarly inhibited, as were the typical increases in serum leptin levels. These data substantiate CFE's reported anorexigenic effects. CFE treatment also conferred protection against atherogenesis.

Ginseng

Common name: Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, American ginseng ,Korean red ginseng

Ginseng is one of the most well-known herbal medicines widely used in East Asia as a tonic, restorative and anti-aging agent in traditional Chinese medicine . Ginseng is a slow-growing, deciduous, perennial plant of the Araliaceae family which includes Panax ginseng ( Chinese or Korean ginseng), Panax japonicus (Japanese ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (Xiyangshen, American ginseng) .29-32

Ginseng leaf-stem extract contains a number of important bioactive constituents namely ginsenosides, polysaccharides, triterpenoids and flavonoids. Among other constituents, ginsenosides exert main pharmacological actions of ginseng root, leaf-stem and berry . More than 30 ginsenosides have been isolated and identified in Panax quinquefolius, Panax ginseng and Panax japonicus.33,34

Berry, root and leaf extracts of American and Chinese ginseng as well as total ginsenosides of Chinese ginseng leaf-stem had anti-obesity activities in animals and that American ginseng leaf extract significantly reduced body weight in adult obese mice .35

Chang Nam Ko et al published a study on the mixture of Ginseng Radix and Crataegi Fructus (Gen-CF) which was developed to increase the pharmacological effect of ginseng in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the effects of Gen-CF on serum lipids of hypercholesterolemic rats in vivo, as well as its antioxidant activities in vitro, and explored its clinical effects on patients with hypercholesterolemia. In vitro, Gen-CF displayed 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrasyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities, and inhibited hemolysis induced by 2,2S-azobis-2-amidinopropane dihydrochloride in a dose-dependent manner. 36

In vivo, Gen-CF significantly inhibited the increases of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride in high cholesterol-diet and Triton WR-1339 models. It also significantly inhibited the decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in these models. In the clinical trial, Gen- CF significantly lowered total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipid and phospholipid, with no adverse events, including hepatic or renal toxicity. The data suggest that Gen- CF has the potential to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Yi-Seong KWAK published a data in Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP)isolated from Korean red sinseng carried out to prove the anti hyperlipaedimic activity using hyperlipidemic rats acutely induced by Triton WR1339 or corn oil intravenously injected. Oral administration of RGAP (100 to 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the serum levels of triglyceride (TG) up-regulated by Triton WR1339, an inducer of endogenous model hyperlipidemia. Moreover,RGAP treatment was shown to significantly decrease the levels of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concomitant with TG reduction.37

However, such reduction effects were not observed in cases of total cholesterol (TC) and phospholipid levels increased under the same conditions, although there was an inhibitory tendency. The exogenous hyperlipidemic rat condition triggered by corn oil also supported the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of RGAP in serum and hepatic parameters of TG and NEFA. RGAP significantly enhanced the serum activity of lipoprotein lipase, a key hydrolytic enzyme of lipid molecules in lipoprotein, in a dose-dependent manner up to 80%, implying potential involvement of this enzyme in lowering TG and NEFA by RGAP.Therefore, the data suggest that RGAP may play an additional role in reducing hyperlipidemic conditions, which can be used as a valuable neutraceutical application for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Erythrina indica

Common name: Coral tree, sunshine tree

Erythrina indica Lam is a common plant found in south India. It is known as kalyana murungai in Tamil. It is being considered useful for treating antihelmenthiasis, sedative,anti inflammatory ,nematocidal and worm infection. Flowers, Fruits and Stem are used in anti-helmenthiasis and Skin diseases. The presence of active constituents viz. Alkaloids, Glycosides, Phenyl coumarin have been reported from root and seeds .40

The leaves are cut into small pieces, mixed with dosa flour and prepared as dosa. When eaten it is helpful as a cure for colds and cold related infections. Chopped leaves fried with coconut oil and eaten with cooked rice help encourage the secretion of breast milk. The leaves are included in infusions and other childrens’ medicines used for controlling wheezing trouble. 39

Traditionally, cut leaves are mixed with dhal, cooked and given to pregnant women. It is helpful in relieving scanty urination.

Kamalraj43 investigated study on Antihyperlipidemic Studies on Leaf Extract OfErythrina Indica Lam ,the study was performed by administration of Aqueous extract of erythrina indica leaf at two dose level 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg for 30 days resulted in the reduction in total cholestral, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein level and significant increase in high density lipoprotein level in the high fat diet which in dual hyperlipidemia in rats. The results are compared to that of standard drug, simvastatin 5mg/kg. the study support the earlier claims of the plant in obesity.41,42

CONCLUSION

Based on a number of in vivo studies regarding the efficacy of anti-obesity botanical preparations it has been observed that these drugs act by stimulating thermogenesis, lowering lipogenesis, enhancing lipolysis, suppressing appetite, and decreasing lipid absorption. Single and mixed anti-obesity medicinal plant preparations may have different effects.

The consumption of bioactive compounds from the diet or dietary supplementation is one possible way to control obesity and to prevent or reduce the risks of getting various obesity-related diseases. Recently, there has been a remarkable interest in finding,lipid inhibitors from natural products to replace synthetic compounds. Natural substances are presumed to be safe since they occur in plant foods, and are therefore seen as more desirable than their synthetic counterparts. various literature shows that natural products contain a large variety of substances that possess lipid inhibition activity. Especially, a variety of herbs from plants have been used as traditional natural medicines for healing many diseases. In particular, various medicinal herbs are reported to have biological activity.

To treat and control obesity, pharmacological approaches such as drugs to induce loss of appetite, inhibit nutrient absorption, and promote weight loss have been used. Clinically available antiobesity agents include orlistat, a pancreatic lipase inhibitor, and sibutramine, a centrally acting inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine uptake . However, these antiobesity agents cause serious adverse effects, including constipation, insomnia, emesis, headache, stomachache, and myocardial infarction.(5,6)

To overcome these type of side effects botanicals play a role as a remedy to treat obesity by causing weight loss.The active ingredients present in various herbal extracts reviewed in this article is responsible for weight loss,they reduce the body weight,suppreses apetite ,and causes reduction in calorie intake.

Many slimming agents as patented have launched for weight loss.Before administering the drug the safety of the drug should be assessed by FDA.Currently orlistat is recommended by the physicians for weight reduction.It is less toxic than sibutramine.

Coming to herbal drugs hoodia capsules show good reduction in body weight.It contains pregnane glycoside responsible for anti obesity activity.On the other hand caralluma fimbriata marketed as slimmaluma capsules patented by US FDA.It is also safe to consume as a slimming agent. Further work should be carried out in hemedesmus indicus extract extensively for its anti obesity activity,then even though Gymnema sylvestere,Erythrina variegate ,Erythrina indica also causes reduction in cholesterol level further work should be done to prove its safety .

Conflict of Interest

NIL

Source of Support

NONE

Tables at a glance

Table 1

References

1. Formiguera X, Cantón A. Obesity: epidemiology and clinical aspects. Best Pract Res ClinGastroenterol 2004; 18: 1125–46.
2. Bray GA. Risks of obesity. EndocrinolMetabClin North Am 2003; 32: 787–804.
3. Adolescent obesity by different growth charts and its efficacy with central adiposity among school-age children in Mumbai
4. Abdollahi M, Afshar-Imani B. A review on obesity and weight loss measures. Middle East Pharmacy 2003; 11: 6-10
5. Orlistatmedline plus available at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/me ds/a601244.html
6. M. H. Pittler, and E. Ernst. Dietary supplements for body-weight reduction: a systematic review. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2004, 79 (4): 529-536.
7. A. Kumar, S. Lingadurai, A. Jain, and N. R. Barman Erythrinavariegata Linn: A review on morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul-Dec; 4(8): 147–152
8. G. Balamurugan, A. shantha effect of erythrinavariegata seed extract on hyperlipidaemia elicited by high fat diet in wistar rats. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2010 Oct-Dec; 2(4): 350–355.
9. Glasl S. Hoodia: A herb used in South African traditional medicine – A potential cure for overweight? Pharmacognostic review of history, composition, health-related claims, scientific evidence and intellectual property rights. Schweiz Z Ganzheitsmed 2009; 21: 300–306
10. Van Heerden FR, Vleggaar R, Horak RM, Learmonth RA, Maharaj V, Whittal RD. Pharmaceutical compositions having appetitesuppressant activity. US Patent 6376657 B1; 2002
11. Tulp OL, HarbiN.EffectofHoodiaplant on weight loss in congenic obese LA/Ntul//-cp rats. FASEB J 2002; 16: A654
12. MacLean DB, Luo L-G. Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside. Brain Res 2004; 1020: 1–1
13. Holt S, Taylor TV. Hoodia gordonii: Part 2: separating science from speculation. Townsend Lett 2006; 281: 99–104 IlzeVermaak, Josias H. Hamman, Alvaro M. Viljoen Hoodia gordonii: An Up-to-Date Review of a Commercially Important Anti-Obesity Plant Planta Med 2011; 77: 1149–1160
14. Hoodia Clinical Studies Medical Evidence of the Effectiveness of Hoodia Gordonii available at https://hoodia-weight-loss.most-effectivesolution. com/hoodia-clinical-studies/
15. Madgula VL, Avula B, Pawar RS, et al. (August 2008). "In vitro metabolic stability and intestinal transport of P57AS3 (P57) from Hoodia gordonii and its interaction with drug metabolizing enzymes".PlantaMedica 74 (10): 1269–75.
16. Y. J. Shukla, R. S. Pawar, Y. Ding, X.-C. Li, D. Ferreira, and I. A. Khan, “Pregnane glycosides fromHoodiagordonii,” Phytochemistry, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 675–683, 2009.
17. D. B. MacLean and L.-G. Luo, “Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside,” Brain Research, vol. 1020, no. 1-2, pp. 1– 11, 2004.
18. Nadkarni AN., “Indian MateriaMedica”, 1989; Vol. 1. India: Popular Book Depot, Bombay.
19. Das S, Prakash R, Devaraj S N., “Antidiarrhoeal effects of methanolic root extract of Hemidesmusindicus (Indian sarsaparilla)—an in vitro and in vivo study”, Indian J ExpBiol, 2003; 41: 363-366.
20. Mary N K, Babu B H, Padikkala J., “Antiatherogenic effect of Caps HT2, a herbal Ayurvedic medicine formulation”, Phytomedicine, 2003; 10: 474-482.
21. GayathriMahalingam, Krishnan KannabiranHemidesmusindicus root extract ameliorates diabetes-mediated metabolic changes in rats International journal of green pharmacy 2009 Volume : 3 Issue : 4 Page : 314-318
22. ShigematsuNorihiro, Ryuji Asano, Makoto Shimosaka, Mitsuo Okazaki. Effect of Administration with the Extract of Gymnemasylvestre R. Br Leaves on Lipid Metabolism inRats. Biol. Pharm. Bull 2001; 24(6): 713—717.
23. Preuss H.G, BagchiDebasis, BagchiManashi, Rao C.V. Sanyasi, Satyanarayana S, DeyDipak K. Efficacy of a novel, natural extract of (–)- hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and acombination of HCA-SX, niacin-bound chromium and and
24. Gymnemasylvestreextract in weightmanagement in human volunteers: a pilot study. Nutr Res 2004; 24(1): 45-58
25. Woodgate Derek E, Conquer Julie A. Effects of a Stimulant-Free Dietary Supplement on Body Weight and Fat Loss in Obese Adults: A Six-Week Exploratory Study. Current Therapeutic Research 2003; 64(4): 248-262
26. Gymnemasylvestreextract in weightmanagement in human volunteers: a pilot study. Nutr Res 2004; 24(1): 45-58
27. Dutt HC et al Pharmacological review of Caralluma R.Br. with special reference to appetite suppression and anti-obesityJ Med Food. 2012 Feb;15(2):108- 19.
28. Soundararajankamalakannan et al Antiobesogenic and Antiatherosclerotic Properties ofCarallumafimbriata Extract journal of nutrition and metabolism. Volume 2010 (2010), Article ID 285301, 6 pages
29. Ernst E. Adulteration of Chinese herbal medicines with synthetic drugs: a systematic review. J Intern Med. 2002;252:107?113.
30. Vogler BK, Pittler MH, Ernst E. The efficacy of ginseng.A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Eur J ClinPharmacol 1999; 55: 567?75
31. Salvati G, Genovesi G, Marcellini L, et al. Effects of Panaxginseng CA Meyer saponinon male fertility. Panminerva Med. 1996; 38: 249?254.
32. Yun TK, Choi SY. Nonorgan specific cancer prevention of ginseng: a prospective study in Korea. IntJEpidemiol. 1998;27:359?364.
33. Takahashi M, Tokuyama S. Pharmacological and physiological effects of ginseng on actions induced by opioids and psychostimulants. Methods Find ExpClinPharmacol. 1998;20:77?84
34. Yue PY, Mak NK, Cheng YK, et al. harmacogenomics and the yin/yang actions of inseng: anti?tumor, angiomodulating and steroid?like activities of ginsenosides chin med 2007 2:6
35. Lakshmi.T ,Anitha Roy ,Geetha RV panax ginseng-A universal panacea in the Herbal Medicine with Diverse Pharmacological Spectrum –A review Asian journal of pharmaceutical and clinical research vol.4 suppl 1 2011.
36. Chang namko et al Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of the Mixture of Ginseng Radix and CrataegiFructus: Experimental Study andPreliminary Clinical Results J. Ginseng Res. Vol. 35, No. 2, 162-169 (2011)
37. Yi-Seong KWAK Anti-hyperlipidemic Effects of Red Ginseng Acidic Polysaccharide from Korean Red Ginseng. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 33(3) 468—472 (2010)
38. Edible Plants Of The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest Available At Http://Tamildictionary.50webs.Com /Herbs/Tamilherbs.Pdf
39. Mohanty KC and Das SN. Indian Journal of Nematalogy. 1998; 18 (1) :138.
40. Kamalraj .R Antihyperlipidemic Studies On Leaf Extract Of ErythrinaIndica Lam International Journal Of Research In Pharmacy And Chemistry 1(3)2011
41. Kuriyan, R., Raj, T., Srinivas, S.K., Vaz, M., Rajendran, R., Kurpad, A.V., 2007. Effect of Carallumafimbriata extract on appetite, food intake and anthropometry in adult Indian men and women. Appetite 48, 338–344.
42. Kaushikmanish et al Anti obesity activity of hexane extract from the leaves of Gymnemasylvestere in high fat cafeteria induced diabetic rats . IJRP 2(8)2011;112-116
43. Yun, S.N., Moon, S.J., Ko, S.K., Im, B.O., Chung, S.H., 2004. Wild ginseng prevents the onset of high-fat diet induced hyperglycemia and obesity in ICR mice. Arch. Pharm. Res. 27, 790–796.