{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T21:04:42Z","timestamp":1785618282860,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,25]],"date-time":"2025-12-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1766620800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"J&A Oben Foundation","award":["JAOF 122025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["JAOF 122025"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Dichrostachys glomerata and Cissus quadrangularis, two species traditionally used in Cameroon, are recognized for their weight-reducing potential. This study examined the effects of standardized extracts of these botanicals on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), and key metabolic outcomes in individuals with excess body weight. Materials and Methods: In this 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 248 adults (126 women and 122 men; mean age 41.3 \u00b1 0.3 years; BMI 25\u201334.9 kg\/m2) were assigned to receive 400 mg D. glomerata extract (DGE), 300 mg C. quadrangularis extract (CQE), semaglutide (dose-escalated from 3 mg to 14 mg), or placebo, administered once daily. These are all standard clinical regimens. Primary assessments included changes in GLP-1 levels and DPP-4 activity. Secondary evaluations included body composition, caloric intake, satiety response, fasting glucose levels, and lipid profiles. Results: Participants receiving DGE or CQE displayed notable elevations in circulating GLP-1 (+38.6 pg\/mL and +42.2 pg\/mL, respectively; p &lt; 0.01) and significant reductions in DPP-4 activity (\u221215.3% and \u221217.8%; p &lt; 0.01) compared with placebo. Both extracts produced substantial improvements in body weight (\u22125.2% and \u22125.8%), body fat (\u221210.3% and \u221210.9%), energy intake (\u221216.2% and \u221217.5%), and satiety (+25.6% and +27.4%) (p &lt; 0.01). Significant changes in fasting glucose and serum lipid levels were also observed (p &lt; 0.05). These responses are comparable to those of semaglutide. Moreover, GLP-1 increments showed strong negative correlations with body fat percentage (r = \u22120.91 to \u22120.92; p &lt; 0.001) and DPP-4 activity (r = \u22120.97 to \u22120.98; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Supplementation with D. glomerata and C. quadrangularis extracts enhanced GLP-1 secretion and reduced DPP-4 activity, yielding significant benefits for body composition and metabolic parameters. These findings indicate that both botanicals are promising natural agents for managing obesity through incretin-based mechanisms.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina62010041","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,26]],"date-time":"2025-12-26T02:07:58Z","timestamp":1766714878000},"page":"41","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effects of Dichrostachys glomerata and Cissus quadrangularis Extracts on GLP-1 Secretion and DPP-4 Activity in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"62","author":[{"given":"Janvier","family":"Youovop","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde P.O. Box 812, Cameroon"},{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guy","family":"Takuissu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"},{"name":"Centre for Food, Food Security and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies (IMPM), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde P.O. Box 13033, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R\u00e9gine","family":"Minoue","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Felix","family":"Nwang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maryam","family":"Adegboyega","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Crista","family":"Arrey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Obesity Centre, Central Hospital, Yaounde P.O. Box 87, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Inelle","family":"Makamwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde P.O. Box 812, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julius","family":"Oben","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde P.O. Box 812, Cameroon"},{"name":"Research and Development Department, Cameroon Nutrition and Dietetic Research Centre, J&A Oben Foundation, Yaounde P.O. Box 8348, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2024, February 21). Obesity and Overweight. 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