Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of sterculia scaphigera(Pangdahai) extract on fatty acid synthase and weight reduction in diet-induced obesity rats. Methods SPF-grade adult male Wistar rats were fed with high-fat diet, at the same time an extract from Pangdahai 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg were administered by oral gavage once daily respectively, which lasted for 45 d. At the end of administration, the body weight(BW), adipose and food consumption were recorded, the content of serum biochemistry and the activity of hepatic fatty acid synthesis(FAS) were measured. Results Compared with the model-control group, the BW, adipose, food intake and the hepatic FAS activity were significantly decreased in the Pangdahai extract 100 mg/kg intervention group(P<0.05). Conclusion Pangdahai extracts at the dose of 100 mg/kg could inhibit FAS activity and appetite of the rats.

Key words: sterculia scaphigera, nutritional obesity, fatty acid synthase, rat, weight reduction