Anti‐adipogenic and anti‐inflammatory effects of high hydrostatic pressure extract of red ginseng in diet‐induced obese rats

Abstract

Red ginseng has been known to have beneficial effects against cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis. High hydrostatic pressure processing extracts essential components from food materials at a low temperature without destroying heat‐sensitive bioactive constituents. High hydrostatic pressure extract of red ginseng has been reported to increase the content of active components including ginsenosides. This study examined the effects of high hydrostatic pressure extract of red ginseng (HRG) on obesity and inflammation in obese rats fed a high‐fat diet. The rats were fed a high‐fat control diet (HF), high‐fat diet supplemented with 1.5% HRG (wt:wt) for 14 weeks. HRG reduced body weight and also decreased serum leptin level compared with the HF control group. HRG supplementation decreased the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes including peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma (PPAR‐γ) and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) in white adipose tissue (WAT). Moreover, mRNA levels of major inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) were remarkably down‐regulated by the HRG in WAT. Therefore, HRG might be beneficial for the amelioration of obesity and inflammation by suppressing genes involved in the adipogenesis and pro‐inflammation.