Evaluation on Anti-Obesity Effects of Leucophyllum Frutescens (Berland) I. M. Johnst Flower – A Future Trend Forecasting

Abstract

Medicinal plants have long served as sources of bioactive compounds for managing metabolic disorders. The alarming rise in obesity worldwide has intensified the search for safe and effective natural therapeutics. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and anti-obesity potential of the aqueous flower extract of Leucophyllum frutescens through GC-MS analysis, in vitro enzyme inhibition and molecular docking. GC-MS analysis revealed that the main ingredients were phenolic and flavonoid-rich chemicals. Docking research revealed that beta-mangostin, glabridin and stigmasterol have strong binding affinities toward the active regions of targets linked to obesity, suggesting possible regulatory impacts on energy balance and lipid metabolism. Supporting the computational results, enzyme inhibition experiments showed significant activity against pancreatic cholesterol esterase (IC₅₀: 8.5 μg/mL) and pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀: 20.5 μg/mL). The aqueous flower extract of Leucophyllum frutescens shows promise anti-obesity efficacy due to its high phytoconstituent content. This work stimulates additional isolation and clinical research of the discovered compounds and provides preliminary evidence for the plant's therapeutic use in managing obesity.