| abstract |
An antiobestic agent which has, in addition to the antiobestic effect, the effects of inhibiting saccharolytic digestive enzymes, suppressing an increase in blood sugar level, inhibiting the absorption of monosaccharides, adsorbing and excreting cholic acid, lowering cholesterol level and blood triglyceride level and, inhibiting lipase and is useful not only as an antiobestic agent but also as antilipotrophic, antihyperlipidemic, antiarteriosclerotic and antidiabetic agents. An extract of tamarind seed coat being rich un procyanidin (trimer of formula (I)), which is the active ingredient in the antiobestic agent, exerts as such a potent antiobestic effect without being purified any more. The antiobestic agent serves as a saccharolytic digestive enzyme inhibitor, a hypoglycemic agent, a monosaccharide absorption inhibitor, a cholic acid adsorption/excretion agent, a cholesterol-lowering agent, a blood triglyceride level-lowering agent and a lipase inhibitor and facilitates the production of foods, drinks and feeds showing these effects, thus contributing to the amelioration or prevention of diabetics or obesity in daily life. |