メタボリックシンドロームに対するコタラヒムブツ（Salacia reticulata ）の予防効果

In recent years the number of patients with metabolic syndrome（MetS）has been increasing in advanced countries, and the condition is now becoming a serious problem in Japan. In Sri Lanka, a perennial liana, Salacia reticulata（Kotala himbutu）, has traditionally been used in Ayurveda（Ayurvedic medical care）for the treatment of diabetes（mellitus）and skin diseases. Some reports have recently shown that components of the plant’s extracts have an inhibitory action against elevation of blood sugar, antiobesity actions, protective action on the liver, antioxidant actions, etc. In the present study, the effects of a mixture of Kotala himbutu aqueous extract and cyclodextrin（KH）were investigated on the various morbidities of MetS in animal models of MetS, TSOD mice. The animals were given, normal feed（MF）containing the powder of KH at concentrations 1％ or 3％, for 8 weeks. Then, the body weight, amount of food intake and the serum insulin levels in the animals were measured. Determination of the serum biochemistry, X−ray computed tomography（CT）to determine the visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, measurement of blood pressure, the pain test and glucose tolerance test were also conducted. Significant inhibitions of weight gain and of visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation were noted from the early stage of administration of KH. Serum biochemical examination revealed decreases in the blood sugar, T−Cho, LDL−Cho and HDL−Cho levels. The findings confirmed a significant beneficial effect of KH on impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension and peripheral neuropathy.（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2008；36：39−48）KEY WORDS Metaboric syndrome, Kotala himubutu, Salacia reticulata, TSOD