Method of Action:
The current literature reflects a dual action of Anabolic Pump: A GU (glucose uptake) effect, displaying a specificity for myocytes, as well as potent anti-lipogenic action, thereby reducing the biosynthesis, differentiation, proliferation, and accumulation of lipids in various forms. The data reflects that each ingredient is achieving these effects by somewhat exclusive pathways; though the exact pathway through which Corosolic Acid and Tannins complete these actions are somewhat unknown. Let us begin with Lagerstroemia, relative to Corosolic Acid and Tannins found within it.
Corosolic Acid:
has demonstrated extremely potent glucose-uptake activity in both human trials [3] as well as rat trials [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. CA’s MGU (muscle glucose uptake) appears to be regulated by the induction of insulin-reactive cascades, though the exact cascades are currently unclear. It is postulated, that in a manner corollary to Berberine, CA is directly altering response to downstream messengers; thereby altering the catabolic:anabolic response pathway. Further, CA prevents lipid metabolism by directly regulating PPAR-Gamma2 and therefore lipid mRNA expression [1]. PPAR-Gamma2 is part of a nuclear receptor family that has diverse physiological action in the body; however, it is paramount in this respect, as PPAR-y2 directly regulates the distribution of adipose in the humab body – specifically, controlling regulation of adipose storage.
Tannic Acid:
This second compound in Lagerstroemia has shown very potent anti-diabetic activity by way of stimulating glucose uptake in muscle cells and by inhibiting key genes related to fat accumulation [7]. Current data reflects this constituent of LS exerts transcriptional control over PPAR-y2 as well; it achieves this by inhibiting the binding of PPAR-y2 to target enzymes (such as CPT-1). As each product within Anabolic Pump, Tannic Acid directly stimulates GLUT4 translocation itself, without directly inducing Insulin’s release [8]. By which exact mechanism is unknown.
Berberine:
The final compound in question is Phellodendron; or more specifically, Berberine. Berberine is the most interesting of all three compounds, due to its direct regulation of the master regulatory switch of energy transaction within the body: AMPk. AMPk regulates the manner in which the human body synthesizes, and expends energy. It directs the body’s response of extracellular energy mechanisms, in order to meet intracellular demand for energy. AMPk regulates the biosynthesis of plasma triglycerides, FAs, and cholesterol, as well as regulating their proliferation via exerting transcriptional control over PPAR-a and PPAR-y [9. 10] in adipose and striated muscle. It not only inhibits lipid synthesis, and induces lipolysis, thereby decreases triglycerol stores (adipose), but modulates the rate-limiting step to B-Oxidation of FAs: CPT-1. It achieves this by inhibiting malonly-cOa, via malonyl-cOa-decarboxlyase, and ACC, and thereby directly increases levels of CPT-1; the target enzyme of the PPAR-Family, responsible for mitochondrial admission of FAs, and their subsequent oxidation. Further, Berberine mediated AMPk expression induces insulin-independent GLUT4 regulation [9]. The whole body improvement in Insulin Sensitivity derived from Berberine is thought to be a result of mitochondrial respiration inhibition; thereby increasing demand for ATP, subsequent AMPk phosphorylation, and the induction of glycolysis and glycogen replenishment [14]. While Anabolic Pump is often solely conceptualized as a glucose disposal agent, its direct control over lipogenic and energy expenditure mechanisms ensures tissue recomposing via preferential energy use – that is, it genetically alters the manner in which your body diverts energy to adipose and striated muscle; decreasing the former, while increasing the latter.
It should also be noted that clinical, long-term trials [11, 12] using the aforementioned ingredients have not noted any adverse biological effects. Microbiological assays [13] have also revealed no damaging effects to mammalian cell function. Further, it should be noted that the vast majority of the clinical research presented in this report converges on a major, health-related note: Both LS and Berberine possess potent anit-lipogenic activity, and thereby mitigate LDL cholesterol, and plasma triglyceride formation and function – key contributors to coronary disease. It should also be noted that both ingredients mitigate abnormal blood pressure levels.
Literature:
[1] Banaba Leaf Research Update
Effects of dietary mulberry, Korean red ginseng, and banaba on glucose homeostasis in relation to PPAR-alpha, PPAR-gamma, and LPL mRNA expressions.
Life Sci. 2005 Nov 12;77(26):3344-54. Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
[2] Effects of malted barley extract and banaba extract on blood glucose levels in genetically diabetic mice.
J Med Food. 2004 Winter;7(4):487-90
[3] Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves - banaba - in Type II diabetics. A dose-dependence study.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jul;87(1):115-7. Judy WV, et al.
[4] An extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. has insulin-like glucose uptake-stimulatory and adipocyte differentiation-inhibitory activities in 3T3-L1 cells.
J Nutr. 2001 Sep;131(9):2242-7
[5] Antiobesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999 Dec;45(6):791-5.
[6] Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. banaba leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996 Feb;60(2):204-8.
[7] Tannic acid in banaba herb
Tannic acid stimulates glucose transport and inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells.
J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):165-71.
Liu X, Kim et al.
[8] Antidiabetes and Anti-obesity Activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa Guy Klein,1 et al.
[9] Berberine, a natural plant product, activates AMP-activated protein kinase with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic and insulin-resistant states. Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Sillim-Dong .
[10] Berberine-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes involves both AMPK and p38 MAPK Zhe Cheng et.
[11] Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on stress levels in healthy women: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Nutr J. 2008: (7): 11. Douglas S Kalman et al.
[12] Phellodendron and Citrus extracts benefit cardiovascular health in osteoarthritis patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.Nutr J. 2008: (7):16. Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemsitry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde, Cameroon. Oben et al.
[13] Genotoxicity Study of Water Extract of Anemarrhena asphodeloides
and Phellodendron amurense in Bacterial and Mammalian Cell Systems.
Young-Shin Chung et al.
[14] Berberine and Its More Biologically Available Derivative, Dihydroberberine, Inhibit Mitochondrial Respiratory Complex I: A Mechanism for the Action of Berberine to Activate AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and Improve Insulin Action. Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia. Nigel Turner et al.
