Adzuki beans, rich in flavonoids and saponins, can potentially prevent obesity by inhibiting enzymes related to fat accumulation and enhancing lipid breakdown.
The study involved both in vitro and in vivo experimentations. Flavonoids and saponins from adzuki beans were examined for possible inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase activities, and noradrenaline-induced lipolysis. Additionally, an obesity model in mice, stimulated by a high-fat diet, was established to explore the beans' potential anti-obesity properties. Over a period of 8 weeks, changes in the mice's serum and liver lipid parameters were carefully monitored during the intervention process.
The results demonstrated that extracts from adzuki beans could enhance the process of lipolysis. When administered orally to mice, the beans significantly lessened the total body weight and accumulation of adipose tissue compared to the group on a high-fat-diet. Changes were also observed in the lipid levels, both in serum and liver, with notable reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and liver lipids. These findings suggest that adzuki beans' anti-obesity effects may be due to the inhibitory action of their flavonoids and saponins on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase activities, along with the lipid-metabolizing properties of their active components.
