COMPOSITION CONTAINING ARTEMISIA ANNUA EXTRACT, ARTEMISININ OR DIHYDROARTEMISININ FOR PREVENTING OR TREATING OBESITY

摘要

The present invention relates to a composition which contains a mugwort (Artemisia annua) extract, artemisinin, or dihydroartemisinin as an active ingredient and used for the prevention and treatment of obesity. The mugwort extract, artemisinin, or dihydroartemisinin can promote the inhibitory activity of -glucosidase and -amylase, has no cytotoxicity, and suppress the differentiation of adipocytes to fat precursor cells excellently. According to the present invention, the mugwort extract has the excellent effects including not causing a toxic liver in animal models, reducing the weight and fat weight of each area, and increasing the concentration of HDL- cholesterol in the blood, thereby utilized in the prevention and treatment of obesity.