Effect of Ocimum sanctum and Crataegus pubescens aqueous extracts on obesity, inflammation, and glucose metabolism

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ocimum sanctum and Crataegus pubescens extracts on obesity, inflammation, and glucose metabolism in obese rats. Both extracts exerted anti-obesogenic effects, which was associated to increased fecal triacylglycerol excretion and decreased their accumulation in adipose tissue, decreasing adipocyte hypertrophy. O. sanctum showed the greatest hypoglycemic effect, which was associated to its anti-inflammatory effect, as well as an increased hepatic glycogen content and decreased PEPCK and G6Pase hepatic activities. Conversely, C. pubescens (0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL) increased Glut4, Irs1 and Pi3k gene expression in 3T3 L1 adipocyte cells. The beneficial effect of O. sanctum was associated to its high content of ellagic acid, epicatechin, epigallocatehin gallate and rutin, whereas the hypoglycemic effect of C. pubescens was mainly associated with its content of gallic acid. These results suggest that these herbs may be used for the elaboration of functional beverages with hypoglycemic properties.