A systematic way to understand the anti-obese potentials of Cissus quadrangularis (Pirandai): A nutraceutical approach

The development of obesity involves hormones and neurotransmitters. The prevalence of obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI) raised to unacceptable levels in both men and women worldwide. Thyroid hormones are involved in multiple physiological processes, regulate basal metabolic rate, promote the adrenergic nervous system to generate heat in response to cold exposure and stimulate gluconeogenesis and lipolysis and lipogenesis. The increase in the production of thyroid hormone will increase the basal metabolic rate in the body. Thus, the increase in BMR reduces the breakdown of LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycer ides, which causes fat storage. The reduction in the fat level will eventually lead to a lower risk of obesity.

Cissus quadrangularis has been reported to reduce obesity in humans, but no scientific evidence is available to support its use. The computational approach is used to study its biological properties such as molecular docking and functional analysis was performed using BIOVIA Discovery Studio software.

The molecular docking, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies conducted on the active principles of Cissus quadrangularis showed good interaction with selected target proteins involved in obesity. Almost all the active principles possess anti-obesity properties. Amoyrone and ascorbic acid of Cissus quadrangularis has shown excellent interaction, drug likeliness, pharmacokinetic properties. This finding might help in developing an alternate, cost-effective, safe, eco-friendly anti-obese drug. However the results could be validated with in vivo and in vitro studies.