KUMIS KUCING (ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS [BENTH.]) LEAVES ETHANOL EXTRACT AS ANTI‑OBESITY AGENT IN HIGH‑FAT DIET‑INDUCED OBESE MICE

Objective: The leaves of kumis kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus [Benth.]) are used as folk medicine for lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension,hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus in Southeast Asia countries, especially Indonesia. Obesity is closely associated with lifestyle-related disease.The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of kumis kucing leaves ethanol extract in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, and its ability toinhibit pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in vitro.Methods: Obese mice groups were fed a high-fat diet for 30 days and treated with kumis kucing leaves ethanol extract for 2 weeks. The measurementparameter includes body weight, organ weight, and visceral fat mass. Experiments were also carried out to clarify the effect of kumis kucing leavesethanol extract inhibited pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in vitro.Results: Kumis kucing-treated groups showed a significant decrease in body weight, organ weight, and visceral fat mass after 2 weeks treatmentcompared with untreated groups. Furthermore, kumis kucing leaves ethanol extract showed potency as the pancreatic lipase activity inhibitor in vitro.Conclusion: Kumis kucing leaves ethanol extract can inhibit the development of obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The effect appearsmediated by inhibiting the pancreatic lipase activity. The results from this study suggested that the kumis kucing leaves may have a considerableimpact as potential anti-obesity agents.Keywords: Kumis kucing, Extract, Obesity, High-fat diet