Nobiletin Prevents Body Weight Gain and Bone Loss in Ovariectomized C57BL/6J Mice

Young-Sil Lee,Sun-Sil Choi,Byung-Yoon Cha,Midori Asai,Toshiaki Teruya,Je-Tae Woo,Takayuki Yonezawa,Kazuo Nagai

doi:10.4236/pp.2014.510108

Abstract

Obesity and osteoporosis are associated with estrogen deficiency following menopause. Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat both disorders to maintain a healthy life in postmenopausal women. Nobiletin, a polymethoxylated flavone, exhibits various pharmacologic effects, including anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effects of nobiletin on obesity, obesity-related metabolic disorders, and bone mass in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Mice were divided into four groups and underwent sham operation or OVX. OVX mice were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg nobiletin, or received vehicle alone (0.3% carboxyl methyl cellulose/0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide). Nobiletin decreased body weight gain and white adipose tissue weight in OVX mice. Nobiletin also decreased triglyceride levels, and tended to reduce plasma total cholesterol and glucose levels. Additionally, nobiletin prevented the reduction in bone mineral density of the trabecular region of the femur in OVX mice. Taken together, our results suggest that nobiletin improves adiposity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and prevents bone loss in OVX mice. Therefore, nobiletin is expected to have beneficial effects for the prevention and improvement of metabolic disorders and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Highlights

Estrogen is an important factor for protection against obesity in females
It was recently reported that nobiletin can regulate bone metabolism by inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption induced by interleukin (IL)-1 in osteoblasts, and preventing bone loss in OVX mice [12]
We investigated the effects of nobiletin on obesity and bone mass in OVX mice

Summary

Introduction

Estrogen is an important factor for protection against obesity in females. Estrogen deficiency leads to osteoporosis, as well as body weight gain [1] [2]. Natural phytoestrogens are increasingly being used to prevent or improve metabolic disorders, and are thought to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women [5] [6]. There is growing interest in using natural compounds to prevent and improve metabolic disorders and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It was recently reported that nobiletin can regulate bone metabolism by inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption induced by interleukin (IL)-1 in osteoblasts, and preventing bone loss in OVX mice [12]. Our previous studies revealed that nobiletin reduces adiposity, plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice [16]. We investigated the effects of nobiletin on obesity and bone mass in OVX mice

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion