Investigation of therapeutic potential of methoxy chalcone compounds in the treatment of obesity

Obesity is one of the common health problems in the world. Various methods are used in the treatment of obesity and new treatment strategies are being researched every day. Chalcones are the precursors of flavonoids and have a wide range of biological activities. There are no studies in the literature on the treatment of obesity regarding methoxy chalcone compounds. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholine esterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase enzyme inhibitory activities of 12 methoxy chalcone compounds synthesized within the scope of our thesis study were determined. Cytotoxicity studies of the compounds showing the highest lipase enzyme activity for the treatment of obesity were carried out using the MTT method. The in vivo antiobesity effect of compound, which is non-cytotoxic and has the highest lipase inhibitory activity, was evaluated in rats created as an obesity model with a high-fat diet. The in vivo antiobesity effect of the non-cytotoxic and most effective compound on rats created as an obesity model with a high-fat diet was determined by measuring the weekly body weight changes of the rats and serum biochemical parameter levels (HDL, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, adiponectin, triglyceride, IL-1β, insulin, glucose, creatinine, AST and ALT) and histopathological analyzes (on liver, fat and kidney tissue). As a result of the findings obtained from the in vivo study, there was a decrease in the average body weight, serum LDL, total cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin and IL-1β levels while there was an increase in HDL and adiponectin levels of rats in the active ingredient (10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg dose) groups. In histopathological analysis, corrective effects were observed in the active substance groups in heart and kidney tissue. When both biochemical and histopathological data were evaluated, it was seen that the methoxy chalcone compound (7, 1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl), 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one) has been found to have antiobesity activity. It is thought that the active substance can improve the complications of obesity and be a potential alternative therapeutic agent. In order to be used for therapeutic purposes, advanced interdisciplinary pharmacological, toxicological studies and clinical research are required.