Abstract
The shoot of Urtica dioica is used in several cultures as a vegetable or herb. However, not much has been studied about the potential of this plant when consumed as a whole food/vegetable rather than an extract for dietary supplements. In a 12-week dietary intervention study, we tested the effect of U. dioica vegetable on high fat diet induced obesity and insulin resistance in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were fed ad libitum with isocaloric diets containing 10% fat or 45% fat with or without U. dioica. The diet supplemented with U. dioica attenuated high fat diet induced weight gain (p < 0.005; n = 9), fat accumulation in adipose tissue (p < 0.005; n = 9), and whole-body insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) (p < 0.001; n = 9). Analysis of gene expression in skeletal muscle showed no effect on the constituents of the insulin signaling pathway (AKT, IRS proteins, PI3K, GLUT4, and insulin receptor). Notable genes that impact lipid or glucose metabolism and whose expression was changed by U. dioica include fasting induced adipocyte factor (FIAF) in adipose and skeletal muscle, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (Ppar-α) and forkhead box protein (FOXO1) in muscle and liver, and Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (Cpt1) in liver (p < 0.01). We conclude that U. dioica vegetable protects against diet induced obesity through mechanisms involving lipid accumulation and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue.
Highlights
Though they are considered weeds and are rarely a cultivated crop, nettles grow in a broad range of climate conditions and are widespread throughout Europe and North America, North Africa, and in parts of Asia
We report on effects of the vegetable on a high fat (HF) diet induced fat accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, endotoxemia and the expression of genes encoding proteins that are involved or impact the insulin signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle of C57BL/6J mice
Diet supplements based on Urtica dioica extracts are widely available in the United
Summary
Though they are considered weeds and are rarely a cultivated crop, nettles grow in a broad range of climate conditions and are widespread throughout Europe and North America, North Africa, and in parts of Asia. Nettles (genus Urtica) have been used for centuries in traditional medicine in several cultures and have been widely studied as intervention for several medical conditions. Dietary supplements based on Urtica spp extracts are widely available. About 25 different species exist within genus Urtica. Urtica dioica is the species commonly found in North America, New Zealand, Turkey, and Europe [1]. Growing U. dioica shoots are harvested before flowering for consumption as an herb or spinach alternative [2,3]
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