Study on the Synergistic Ultrasonic Extraction of Active Components from Loquat Leaves Using Surfactants and Their Mechanism of Action in Weight Loss and Fat Reduction
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The global rise in obesity and associated metabolic disorders has fueled the demand for safe, multi-target therapeutics derived from natural sources. In this study, an artificial neural network combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), was employed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of loquat leaf extract (LLE). The optimal parameters—0.6% Tween 80, 328 W ultrasonic power, and 49 °C—enhanced extraction efficiency while minimizing energy consumption and surfactant use. In vitro, LLE exhibited potent dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC50 = 3.75 μg/mL, 21.6-fold stronger than acarbose) and pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 78.3 μg/mL), indicating strong inhibitory activity against these digestive enzymes. In high-fat diet-induced obese mice, LLE supplementation dose-dependently reduced body weight gain, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood glucose while elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In addition, LLE ameliorated liver injury (decreased ALT/AST) and oxidative stress (lowered MDA, increased SOD). These findings highlight LLE as a promising multi-target natural product for managing obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Source: Foods
Authors: Qiang Li, Lulu Jiang, Pinfeng Zhang, Aoyong Tan, Tingting Zhao, Jiale Niu, Weiwei Wang, Xianglong Zhang, Wanli Zhang, Chenxiang Sun
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W7172298993