We have all heard about the excellent properties of rosehip oil for skin care. It is a 100% natural product used in cosmetics for its enormous benefits, since it is rRich in fatty acids and lipids, such as omega 3 and omega 6, as well as vitamins C, E and A. It is a great ally for take care of scarsgiven his restorative effect; or just for hydrate the skin or control aging Of the same. Until now, the use of rosehip among the population had been eminently reduced to the dermatological field. However, a new study suggests that this plant could have great benefits on obesity.
researchers of the University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)in Australia, have shown that the antioxidants in rosehip have disease-fighting properties that could help finding dietary alternatives to current weight control medications. Current methods of obesity control focus on the Changes in lifestyle and medication. While the drugs are effective, they can also have negative side effects, as high blood pressure or affect the kidney and liver. “Phenolic extracts from rosehip could help create a healthy food product that is effective in interfering with the formation of fat cells, but also avoids the negative side effects of some drugs,” says Professor Benu Adhikari, a member of the Center for Food Research and Innovation at RMIT.
The work, published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology, investigated how antioxidant compounds (phenolic extracts) and organic acid (hydroxycitric acid) obtained from the robust rosehip (‘Hibiscus sabdariffa’), could inhibit the formation of fat cellss. When the body has excess fat intake, the fat can be deposited in the cell, turning them into fat cells called adipocytes. Adipocytes are vital for regulating the body’s energy and sugar levels. However, when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, it can cause fat cells to grow in both size and number, contributing to obesity.
The researchers separately treated the human stem cells with phenolic extracts and hydroxycitric acid before converting them into fat cells. While cells treated with hydroxycitric acid showed no change in adipocyte fat content, cells treated with phenolic extracts had 95% less fat compared to control cells. The research, led by PhD student Manisha Singh, is the first of its kind to use human fat cells to assess the effects of phenolic extracts and hydroxycitric acid from rosehip.
Dr Thilini Thrimawithana, from the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, explains that there is growing interest in investigating how antioxidant-rich compounds, called polyphenols, could one day help manage diseases such as obesity to avoid side effects. of medicines. Polyphenols are found in food sources such as vegetables and fruits. When consumed, antioxidants eliminate oxidation that forms in our bodies, which can help slow aging and prevent disease.
Singh’s team also found that rosehip polyphenols had digestive enzyme-inhibiting properties similar to those of some drugs for obesity control. Polyphenols inhibit the digestive enzyme called lipase. This enzyme helps break down fats into small fractions for absorption by the body through the intestine. Excess fat is transformed into adipose cells. By inhibiting the enzyme lipase, fat cannot be absorbed, so it passes through the colon as waste. “Because these polyphenolic compounds are derived from plants and can be consumed, side effects should be little or none,” Singh says.
The researchers plan to encapsulate the phenolic extracts for use in health food products. They say that they could be turned into small pearls and used to prepare a refreshing drink. “Phenolic extracts are easily oxidized, so encapsulation not only prolongs their shelf life, but also allows us to control how the body releases and absorbs them,” Adhikari said. “If we don’t encapsulate the extract, it could break down in the stomach before we can get its benefits,” he concludes.
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