Reducing effect of an extract of Phaseolus vulgaris on food intake in mice - Focus on highly palatable foods

Different lines of experimental evidence indicate that treatment with extracts from and derivatives of Phaseolus vulgaris reduce intake of food, including highly palatable foods and beverages, in rats. The present study was designed to extend to mice these lines of evidence. To this end, CD1 mice were treated acutely with a standardized extract of Phaseolus vulgaris and then exposed to unlimited access to regular food pellets (Experiment 1) or 1-hour limited access to three different palatable foods/beverages, such as butter cookies (Experiment 2), a condensed-milk beverage (Experiment 3), and a chocolate-flavored beverage (Experiment 4). Treatment with Phaseolus vulgaris extract resulted in a significant reduction in the intake of regular food pellets, that was still evident 24 hours later, as well as of the three palatable nourishments. Together, these results (a) extend to mice several previous findings on the capacity of Phaseolus vulgaris extracts to suppress food intake in rats, (b) suggest that Phaseolus vulgaris extracts may interfere with the central mechanisms regulating appetite, food intake, palatability, and/or the rewarding and hedonic properties of food, and (c) Phaseolus vulgaris extracts may represent a potentially effective therapy for overeating, obesity, and food craving.