METHOD FOR SCREENING POTENTIAL ANTI-OBESITY AGENTS AND AGENT

摘要

A method for the screening of an agent to determine whether or not it would be useful as an anti-obesity agent. The method includes determining whether such agent stimulates micromotion of cells in vitro. An agent which stimulates cellular micromotion is considered useful as an anti-obesity agent and is a candidate for further testing to determine its particular effectiveness, relative to known anti-obesity agents, for example. Measurement of micromotion activity of cultured human preadipocytes is described. One such compound, 1-carboxyethyl-3,7-dimethylxanthine, has been identified in formula (I). The use of 1-carboxyethyl-3,7-dimethylxanthine in the preparation of a medicament for use in controlling body weight or in treating obesity and a pharmaceutical composition for treating obesity, or for controlling the body weight of a mammal, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of 1-carboxyethyl-3,7-dimethylxanthine are described.