Efficacy and tolerability of a novel herbal formulation for weight management.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an herbal blend.
Design and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial in 60 subjects with body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40 kg/m(2) . Participants were randomized into two groups receiving either 400 mg herbal capsules or 400 mg placebo capsules twice daily. The herbal blend comprises of extracts from Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana. Participants received a standard diet (2,000 kcal per day) and walked 30 min 5 days per week.
Results: After 8 weeks, significant net reductions in body weight (3.74 kg; P < 0.0001), BMI (1.61 kg/m(2) ; P < 0.0001), and waist circumference (5.44 cm; P < 0.05) were observed in the herbal group compared with placebo. Additionally, a significant increase in serum adiponectin concentration was found in the herbal group versus placebo (P = 0.001). Adverse events were mild and were equally distributed between the two groups. In vitro studies in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line showed that the herbal extract markedly downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, adipocyte-differentiation related protein, and cluster of differentiation 36 but increased adiponectin expression. The herbal extract also reduced the expression and the recruitment of perilipin onto the membrane of lipid droplets.
Conclusion: Supplementation with the herbal blend resulted in a greater degree of weight loss than placebo over 8 weeks.
(Copyright © 2012 The Obesity Society.)