Abstract
Lemon balm and corn silk are valuable medicinal herbs, which exhibit variety of beneficial effects for human health. The present study explored the anti-obesity effects of a mixture of lemon balm and corn silk extracts (M-LB/CS) by comparison with the effects of single herbal extracts in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. HFD supplementation for 84 days increased the body weight, the fat mass density, the mean diameter of adipocytes, and the thickness of fat pads. However, oral administration of M-LB/CS significantly alleviated the HFD-mediated weight gain and adipocyte hypertrophy without affecting food consumption. Of the various combination ratios of M-LB/CS tested, the magnitude of the decreases in weight gain and adipocyte hypertrophy by administration of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, and 4:1 (w/w) M-LB/CS was more potent than that by single herbal extracts alone. In addition, M-LB/CS reduced the HFD-mediated increases in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein, prevented the reduction in serum high-density lipoprotein, and facilitated fecal excretion of cholesterol and triglyceride. Moreover, M-LB/CS mitigated the abnormal changes in specific mRNAs associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, M-LB/CS reduced lipid peroxidation by inhibiting the HFD-mediated reduction in glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Therefore, M-LB/CS is a promising herbal mixture for preventing obesity.
Highlights
Throughout preliminary screening study from our laboratory, we found that lemon balm and corn silk extracts could suppress weight gain in experimental animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD)
Because rosmarinic acid and allantoin have been known as bioactive phytochemicals found in Lemon balm hydroethanolic extract (LBE) and corn silk extract (CSE) [17,22], we quantified the concentrations of rosmarinic acid and allantoin in LBE and CSE
Because rosmarinic acid and allantoin have been known as bioactive phytochemicals found in LBE and CSE [17,22], we quantified the concentrations of rosmarinic acid and allantoin in present
Summary
Obesity is the abnormal accumulation of body fat and exaggerates the incidence of comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and neurodegenerative disease [1]. In 2016, it has been estimated that about 39%. Of adults worldwide are overweight (i.e., body mass index ≥ 25) and 13% are obese (i.e., body mass index ≥ 30) [2]. In East Asian countries, including Korea, the prevalence of obesity within last two decades has been rapidly escalated due to excess calorie intake and sedentary lifestyles along with socioeconomic growth.
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