Beneficial influences of Amorphophallus konjac k. koch in counteracting weight gain resulting from a high-fat diet and the use of antipsychotic drugs

Obesity and overweight represent a significant challenge to global health, necessitating immediate action to create safe and effective treatment options. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch (konjac) as a natural anti-obesity agent in mice that developed obesity due to a high-fat diet and olanzapine treatment. After administering A. konjac in the form of konjac flour orally to mice over eight weeks, we measured body weight gain, total body fat and visceral fat mass, along with the serum lipid profile. The study also focused on evaluating hepatic steatosis and liver injury. Konjac flour was shown to inhibit weight gain and reduce BMI in obese mice. Notably, the groups treated with konjac powder exhibited significant reductions in visceral fat mass compared to the untreated obese group. Moreover, the oral administration of konjac powder led to marked improvements in serum lipid levels and mitigated liver damage by decreasing fat accumulation in the liver and lowering aspartate aminotransferase activity. Research involving Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch (konjac) revealed its significant weight loss effects in obese mice fed a high-fat diet combined with olanzapine. These outcomes suggest that this herbal formulation could be a valuable addition to anti-obesity therapies, helping to prevent the accumulation of body fat and influence lipid metabolism.