Bofutsushosan, a traditional Chinese formulation, inhibits pancreatic lipase activity in vitro and suppresses the elevation of plasma triacylglycerols after oral administration of lipid emulsion

Pancreatic lipase activity measured as fatty acid liberation from lipid emulsion was shown to be inhibited by the addition of Bofutsushosan (BOF) or Daijokito (DJT) extracts at >30 mg/ml. The extracts of Orengedokuto (OGT), Chotosan (CTS), Boiogito (BOT) or Shimbuto (SBT) were ineffective in inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity up to 60 mg/ml. Mice were orally administered with a lipid emulsion in the presence of BOF extracts at 750 and 2250 mg/kg and subsequent elevation of plasma triacylglycerols (TAG) was significantly suppressed as compared with that in the mice which received lipid emulsion alone. However, the addition of DJT extracts did not suppress the elevation of plasma TAG after oral administration of lipid emulsion. Our results suggest that BOF suppresses the absorption of ingested fats and this effect could account for the anti-obese effects of BOF.