Effect of polyphenols from <i>Vicia faba</i> L on lipase activity and melanogenesis

<p>Two new flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6) (3′′-acetyl)-<i>β</i>-D-galactopyranoside <b>1</b> and kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-arabinopyranosyl-5-<i>O</i>-<i>α</i>-L-rhamnopyranoside <b>2</b>, along with six known ones <b>3–8</b> were isolated from the flowers of <i>Vicia faba</i> L. (Fabaceae). Methanol extract and the isolated compounds were tested against lipase and melanogenesis inhibition activities and resulted in that compound <b>2</b> showed 53 and 77% lipase inhibition activity in concentrations of 400 and 800 μg/mL, respectively. For melanogenesis, compounds <b>2</b>, <b>3</b> and <b>4</b> exhibited potent melanogenesis inhibition activity where the melanin content in melanoma cells was decreased to be about 57.5, 56 and 61%, respectively, with no obvious melanocytotoxicity. The rest of compounds showed weak to moderate activity. The results of melanogenesis inhibition activity of this study suggested the potential use of <i>Vicia faba</i> flowers as a skin-whitening agent and reveal the flowers to be a rich source of important phytochemicals with antilipase and melanogenesis inhibitory activity.</p

Anti-obesity activity of Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) powder in ovariectomized mice, and its potentially active compounds

Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) improves the symptoms of menopause. In this study, using ovariectomized mice as a model of menopause, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of this mushroom in menopause. Mice fed diets containing H. erinaceus powder showed significant decreases in the amounts of fat tissue, plasma levels of total cholesterol, and leptin. To determine the mechanism, groups of mice were respectively fed a diet containing H. erinaceus powder, a diet containing ethanol extract of H. erinaceus, and a diet containing a residue of the extract. As a result, H. erinaceus powder was found to increase fecal lipid levels in excreted matter. Further in vitro investigation showed that ethanol extract inhibited the activity of lipase, and four lipase-inhibitory compounds were isolated from the extract: hericenone C, hericenone D, hericenone F, and hericenone G. In short, we suggest that H. erinaceus has an anti-obesity effect during menopause because it decreases the ability to absorb lipids