Plantago asiatica L. Seed Extract Improves Lipid Accumulation and Hyperglycemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Qiming Yang,Zhengtao Wang,Renchao Tong,Lili Ding,Meng Qi,Dandan Wang,Li Yang,Cheng Huang,Zeyun Li

doi:10.3390/ijms18071393

Abstract

Obesity and its common association with type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases are worldwide epidemics. Currently, to prevent or treat obesity and associated metabolic disorders, herbal dietary supplements or medicines have attracted more and more attention owing to their relative effectiveness with fewer significant side effects. We investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Plantago asiatica L. seed extract (PSE) on obesity and associated metabolic disorders in high-fat (HF) diet-induced mice. Our results displayed that PSE did not modify food intake or body weight but decreased abdominal white adipose tissue ratio, white/brown adipocyte size, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid, and hepatic TG concentrations when compared with the HF group. The levels of fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance were improved in the PSE group when compared with the HF group. Furthermore, PSE upregulated mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and target genes related to fatty acid metabolism and energy expenditure in liver and adipose tissue of obese mice when compared with the HF group. PSE treatment effectively improved lipid and glucose metabolism in HF diet-induced obese mice. These effects might be attributed to the upregulation of PPAR signaling

Highlights

Obesity, which is caused by a combination of excessive food energy intake and lack of physical exercise, normally leads to increased health risks of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, or certain types of cancer [1,2,3]
The essential oils in P. asiatica L. exerted hypolipidemic effects on C57BL/6 mice [21]. These reports suggested that P. asiatica L. seeds might potentially participate in the amelioration of glucose and lipid metabolism and obesity
The results showed that pathways of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) signaling, fatty acid metabolism, SREBP control of lipid synthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis were modulated by Plantago asiatica L. seed extract (PSE) treatment

Summary

Introduction

Obesity, which is caused by a combination of excessive food energy intake and lack of physical exercise, normally leads to increased health risks of type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, or certain types of cancer [1,2,3]. (Chinese plantain) is a common herbal medicine belonging to the genus Plantago and is native to East Asia. This herb is traditionally used to treat liver disease, stomach problems, and urinary system inflammation [10,11,12]. Recent reports have demonstrated that many Plantago species exerted therapeutic effects on obesity, type 2 diabetes, and lipid disorders [15,16,17]. The essential oils in P. asiatica L. exerted hypolipidemic effects on C57BL/6 mice [21] These reports suggested that P. asiatica L. seeds might potentially participate in the amelioration of glucose and lipid metabolism and obesity

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion