Tabebuia impetiginosa Extract May Help Reduce Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease Risks

Filed in archive Food and Agriculture on August 14, 2008

Using rats as animal models, scientists have been able to demonstrate that extracts derived from the Central and South American-native plant Tabebuia impetiginosa (also known as Pink Ipê or Pink Lapacho) can block dietary fat absorption, and thus reduce the risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Dr Roos and his team have shown that Tabebuia extract can reduce levels of triglycerides, a breakdown product of fat, in rats after they have been fed a fatty meal. "This result shows the extract may have a potential use in treating obesity," he observes. "However, as coronary heart disease and diabetes have also been shown to be associated with higher triglyceride levels after eating, we believe a food-supplement based on Tabebuia could reduce the incidence of these diseases as well. What is more, as obesity in developing countries is also on the increase, such extracts, taken as a capsule or added to food, may be a cheaper alternative for the rural population to pharmaceuticals."

The data has been presented at the Society for Experimental Biology's Annual Meeting in Marseille last month and a paper is currently in press. The researchers say that futher studies will be conducted to identify the active compounds in the extracts.

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