Purpose: Obesity is a complex medical problem that increases the risk of other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver disease. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Cyperus rotundus rhizome extract (CRE), standardized to contain Piceatannol, Scirpusin A, and Scirpusin B (5% total Stilbenoids) in overweight individuals. The mechanism of activity was evaluated in a diet-induced mice model of obesity and adipocytes in vitro.
Materials and Methods: The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of CRE were evaluated in 30 obese individuals with a BMI of 30 to 40 kg/m2 for 90 days in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. In vitro studies were carried out in differentiated 3T3 L1 adipocytes, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
Results: The pilot clinical study showed a reduction in body weight with a significant decrease in waist circumference and BMI. The serum lipid profile showed a significant improvement in CRE-treated individuals. The extract was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were reported at the end of the study. CRE showed a dose-dependent adipogenesis reduction in vitro with an IC50 value of 9.39 μg/mL, while oral administration of CRE reduced weight gain in diet-induced obese mice. The efficacy in mice was associated with reduced levels of leptin, corticosteroids, and serum lipid levels, with no adverse effects.
Conclusion: CRE has anti-adipogenic properties, is safe for human consumption, and effectively manages weight and hypercholesterolemia in overweight individuals. The results showed a reduction in body weight (p < 0.01), a decrease in waist circumference (p = 0.056) and BMI (p < 0.01) in individuals treated with CRE. In addition, an improvement in lipid profile was observed (p < 0.01)
Keywords: Cyperus rotundus, piceatannol, Scirpusin A, Scirpusin B, obesity, adipogenesis, lipid levels, leptin, randomized clinical trial
Conclusion discussion : From the present results, it can be concluded that herbal composition from the rhizomes of C. rotundus comprising Piceatannol, Scirpusin A, and Scirpusin B could be potent and safe health adjuvant for managing hypercholesterolemia and obesity in humans. Thus, Cyperus rotundus extract is safe for human consumption and is also effective in managing weight and hypercholesterolemia in humans.
The Anti-Obesity Potential of Cyperus rotundus Extract Containing Piceatannol, Scirpusin A and Scirpusin B from Rhizomes: Preclinical and Clinical Evaluations - Muhammed Majeed, Kalyanam Nagabhushanam, Beena Bhat, Mohammad Ansari, Anjali Pandey, Sarang Bani, Lakshmi Mundkur, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy 2022:15 369–382

ABSTRACT Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-obesity potential of the aqueous tuber extract of Cyperus rotundus L. (ATECR) in high fat cafeteria diet (HFCD) fed obese rats.
Methods: Wistar strain of albino rats were divided into six groups comprising of six rats each. Group I served as normal control fed with normal pellet chow, group II served as disease control fed with high fat cafeteria diet, group III, IV and V animals, received ATECR at a dose level of 100, 200 and 300mg/kg bw along with HFCD for 40 days, while, group VI served as standard drug control, which received Orlistat at a dosage of 50mg/kg bw along with HFCD.
Results: Administration of HFCD for 40 successive days to experimental rats significantly increased the body weight, organ and fat pad weights, serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels; and decreased HDL cholesterol as compared to normal control. While treatment with ATECR showed a significant reduction in the body weight gain, organ weight of the liver, kidney, spleen, weight of fat pads and the levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, glucose and increase in HDL cholesterol in a dose dependent manner. Further, the levels of liver markers such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which were found to be elevated in the serum of obese rats, also resumed to normal on treatment with different concentrations of ATECR. Moreover, the consumption of ATECR reduced oxidative stress by enhancing the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the hepatic tissue of rats with HFCD induced obesity.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate clearly that repeated oral administration of tubers of Cyperus rotundus L. aqueous extract can evoke a potent anti-obesity activity.
Keywords: High Fat Cafeteria diet, Obesity, Cyperus rotundus L., Orlistat.
Anti-obesity potential of cyperus rotundus l. aqueous tuber extract in rats fed on high fat cafeteria diet - athesh, divakar m, brindha p - Asian J Pharm Clin Res, Vol 7, Issue 2, 2014, 88-92 - Vol 7, Issue 2, 2014