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A team of scientists at Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda have claimed success with a potent anti-obesity agent in studies done in laboratory animals. Obesity has emerged as public health problem, resulting in significant burden of non-communicable diseases.
The group has designed new molecules that seem to be effective in controlling food intake in preliminary studies done in rats. The researchers screened database of chemical compounds and identified a chemical moiety, phenothiazine that can be modified to act as an anti-obesity agent. These compounds containing phenothiazine act on Cannabinoid Receptor 1 and inhibit it.
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1R) is a class of receptors involved in various functions like regulating our appetite, pain and emotions.
Preliminary studies done in rats showed significant decrease in food intake as compared to rats in the control group.
The group is currently in the process of chemical modification and optimization of molecule activity that can then be converted in the form of drug. The researchers have filed a patent application in India for these compounds.