Anti-obesity effect of young persimmon fruit extract in obese mice

Abstract

Purpose: Young persimmon fruit (YPF) has recently been reported to have an inhibitory effect on the lipid metabolism. So, this study examined whether YPF has a anti-obesity effect on the lipidmetabolism and adipocyte differentiation through the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in obese mice. Methods: YPF (100 or 200mg/kg body weight/day, p.o.) was administered every day for 3 weeks to male 12-weeks-old obese (db/db) mice, and its effect was compared with nonobese (m/m) and vehicle-treated obese (db/db) mice. Results: The administration of YPF caused a significant in the bodyweight and adipose tissueweight in the obese (db/db) mice. The decreased expression of AMPK protein in the adipose tissue of obese (db/db) mice was significantly increased by YPF treatment. Moreover, obese (db/db) mice exhibited a dysregulation of the protein expression related to lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation in adipose tissue, but YPF administration significantly reduced the expression of the lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation-related proteins through the AMPK pathway. In addition, the size of adipocyte was expand in vehicle-treated obese (db/db) mice, compared with non-obese (m/m) mice, but YPF-treated obse mice clearly showed decreased adipocyte size. Conclusion: This study provides scientific evidence that YPF improve the obesity through the reduction of lipid metabolismand adipocyte differentiation via AMPK activation in the adipose tissue of obese mice. Contact: Min Yeong Kim, lksmhyk69@naver.com