Abstract
This study examined the anti-obesity effects of a Phyllostachys pubescens (leaf) and Scutellaria baicalensis root mixture (BS21), and its underlying mechanisms of action, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were fed a HFD with BS21 (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) for 9 weeks. BS21 reduced body weight, white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver weights, liver lipid accumulation, and adipocyte size. Additionally, BS21 reduced serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid, triglyceride, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, leptin, and insulin growth factor 1, but elevated the adiponectin concentrations. Furthermore, BS21 suppressed the mRNA levels of lipogenesis-related proteins, such as peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) γ, SREBP-1c, C/EBP-α, fatty acid synthase, and leptin, but increased the mRNA gene expression of lipolysis-related proteins, such as PPAR-α, uncoupling protein (UCP) 2, adiponectin, and CPT1b, in WAT. In addition, BS21 increased the cold-stimulated adaptive thermogenesis and UCP1 protein expression with AMPK activation in adipose tissue. Furthermore, BS21 increased the WAT and mRNA expression of energy metabolism-related proteins SIRT1, PGC-1α, and FNDC5/irisin in the quadriceps femoris muscle. These results suggest that BS21 exerts anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic activities in HFD-induced obese mice by increasing the thermogenesis and energy expenditure, and regulating lipid metabolism. Therefore, BS21 could be useful for preventing and treating obesity and its related metabolic diseases.
Highlights
Obesity is defined by excessive body fat mass due to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [1] and is a common health problem that increases the risks for other metabolic disorders, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders [2]
The body weight increased with an high-fat diet (HFD), and the weight gain was higher in the HFD group than in the normal diet (ND) group (p < 0.01) (Figure 1A)
Reduced body weight gain by BS21 could be attributable to reduced fat weight independent of food consumption because the food intake was unchanged across groups and the food efficiency ratio (FER) was lower in BS21-treated mice than in the HFD mice
Summary
Obesity is defined by excessive body fat mass due to an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [1] and is a common health problem that increases the risks for other metabolic disorders, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders [2]. Scutellaria baicalensis roots have been used as medicinal plants for diuretic, antidiarrheal, and anti-inflammatory effects [12]. The various flavonoids found in P. pubescens leaves and S. baicalensis root were shown to exert anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic effects [13,14]. P. pubescens leaves and S. baicalensis root showed the most reliable anti-obesity activites among the plants. We previously observed that diverse combinations of P. pubescens leaves and S. baicalensis roots (BS) have anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic activities in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese rodents; in particular, a 2:1 mixture (BS21) was the most effective ratio for anti-obesity activity [15]. This study explored the anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic activities of BS21, and the underlying mechanism on obesity in HFD-fed obese animals. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate dose prior to clinical trials for commercialization of standardized BS21
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