Gambigyeongsinhwan(2) Reduces Blood Triglyceride Levels and Improves Visceral Fat in High Fat Diet-Fed Obese Male C57BL/6N Mice

Abstract

Objectives : We investigated the effects of gambigyeongsinhwan2(GGH(2)) on body weight and examined whether blood triglyceride levels and visceral fat are inhibited by it in high fat diet-fed obese male mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, GGH(2)-1, GGH(2)-2 and GGH(2)-3. After mice were treated with GGH(2) for 8 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also did histological analysis for liver and fat on the mice. Results : 1. Compared with controls, GGH(2)-treated mice had lower body weight gain and adipose tissue weight, the magnitudes of which were prominent in GGH(2)-3. 2. Compared with controls, GGH(2)-treated mice had lower feeding efficiency ratio, the magnitude of which was prominent in GGH(2)-3. 3. Compared with controls, GGH(2)-treated mice had lower blood plasma triglyceride level. 4. Blood plasma AST and ALT concentrations were not changed by GGH(2), indicating GGH(2) do not show any toxic effects. 5. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, the size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by GGH(2), whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was significantly increased, suggesting that GGH(2) decreased the number of large adipocytes. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased by GGH(2). Conclusions : These results demonstrate that GGH(2) effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood plasma triglyceride level and improves abdominal fat.