p-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol inhibits four obesity-related enzymes in vitro.

Recently, antiobesity studies using the method of inhibiting enzymatic activity of obesity-related enzymes as targets have received considerable attention. The aims of the current study were to investigate whether p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), identified from Cudrania tricuspidata fruits with antiobesity effects, inhibits the activity of digestive and obesity-related enzymes and acts as an inhibitor against four target enzymes in kinetic studies. In vitro enzyme assays showed HBA at the highest concentration significantly reduced the enzymatic activity of four targets: pancreatic lipase (IC50  = 2.34-3.70 μM), α-glycosidase (IC50  = 9.08 μM), phosphodiesterase IV (IC50  = 4.99 μM), and citrate synthase (IC50  = 2.07 μM) enzymes. Based on the results of kinetic assays, the types of inhibition were investigated. Our findings indicate that HBA could have antiobesity efficacy, and it deserves further study.