Reserpic acid, a derivative of the antihypertensive drug reserpine, can inhibit norepinephrine uptake although it is much less effective than reserpine itself. Recently was shown, that reserpic acid possessed a strong binding to the pancreatic lipase, a major target for controlling the obesity.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.

3-O-methylgalangin is a naturally-occurring flavonoid. It is isolated and purified from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum and flowers of Helichrysum kraussii and H. odoratissimum. 3-O-methylgalangin exhibited significant anti-platelet aggregation activity in vitro. It has antioxidant activity. The higher antioxidant activity 3-O-methylgalangin can be attributed to the presence of C-2-C-3 unsaturation allowing the resonance stabilization of the formed radical. Flavonoids are known for their antimicrobial properties and 3-O-methylgalangin possess antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria also. 3-O-methylgalangin is an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase and it was reported that it lowered serum triglyceride level on corn oil-induced hyperlipidemic mice.

1,2-didecanoylglycerol (also known as glyceryl 1,2-dicaprate or 1,2-dicaprin), a synthetic diacylglycerol, is the substrate for human pancreatic lipase. It activates protein kinase C in platelets and enhances anterior pituitary hormone secretion in vitro.

Aescin, the major active principle from Aesculus hippocastanum (Hippocastanaceae) the horse chestnut tree, has shown satisfactory evidence for a clinically significant activity in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), haemorrhoids and post-operative oedema. In one controlled trial aescin was shown to be as effective as compression therapy as an alternative to medical treatment for CVI. The therapeutic benefit is well supported by a number of experimental investigations in different animal models, indicative of clearcut anti-oedematous, anti-inflammatory and venotonic properties, mainly related to the molecular mechanism of the agent, allowing improved entry of ions into channels, thus raising venous tension in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Other mechanisms, i.e. release of PGF2 from veins, antagonism to 5-HT and histamine, reduced catabolism of tissue mucopolysaccharides, further underline the wide ranging mechanisms of the therapeutic activity of aescin. Aescin exists in two forms, α and β. β-aescin (b-escin) appears to be the active component of the mixture and is the molecular form present in major available pharmaceutical products. Beta-aescin has cytotoxic activity toward human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.

Reserpic acid, a derivative of the antihypertensive drug reserpine, can inhibit norepinephrine uptake although it is much less effective than reserpine itself. Recently was shown, that reserpic acid possessed a strong binding to the pancreatic lipase, a major target for controlling the obesity.

Reserpic acid, a derivative of the antihypertensive drug reserpine, can inhibit norepinephrine uptake although it is much less effective than reserpine itself. Recently was shown, that reserpic acid possessed a strong binding to the pancreatic lipase, a major target for controlling the obesity.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.

Aescin, the major active principle from Aesculus hippocastanum (Hippocastanaceae) the horse chestnut tree, has shown satisfactory evidence for a clinically significant activity in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), haemorrhoids and post-operative oedema. In one controlled trial aescin was shown to be as effective as compression therapy as an alternative to medical treatment for CVI. The therapeutic benefit is well supported by a number of experimental investigations in different animal models, indicative of clearcut anti-oedematous, anti-inflammatory and venotonic properties, mainly related to the molecular mechanism of the agent, allowing improved entry of ions into channels, thus raising venous tension in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Other mechanisms, i.e. release of PGF2 from veins, antagonism to 5-HT and histamine, reduced catabolism of tissue mucopolysaccharides, further underline the wide ranging mechanisms of the therapeutic activity of aescin. Aescin exists in two forms, α and β. β-aescin (b-escin) appears to be the active component of the mixture and is the molecular form present in major available pharmaceutical products. Beta-aescin has cytotoxic activity toward human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines.