In this paper, extracts from male zooid of Antheraea pernyi (EMZAP) were investigated for their antiobesity activity in C57BL/6 male mice. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and fed on basal control group diet (Control Group), high-fat diet (Model Group), high-fat diet containing high dose of EMZAP (High Group), and high-fat diet containing low dose of EMZAP (Low Group), respectively. The levels of serum lipid, antioxidant capacity, body weight, and adipose weight were measured. The levels of expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were also determined by Real-Time PCR. The results showed that EMZAP could reduce body weight and epididymal adipose weight of mice on fed high-fat diet, and also decrease serum lipid levels in mice with induced obesity. Treatment with EMZAP also produced significant amelioration of lipid accumulation and improved the antioxidant capacity in the liver. EMZAP reduced the expression of HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA-R) and increased the expression of cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and LDL receptor (LDLR). But it has no obvious effect on the expression of LXRα. According to the above results, EMZAP had good anti-obesity attributes and improvement in conditions arising out of cholesterol accumulation.

The male zooid of Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi) accumulates several nutrients and physiological activity-related substances for reproduction. Some components in the extracts of the male zooid of A. pernyi (EMZAP) have several functions, such as protecting the liver, enhancing immunity, antiatheroscloresis, anti-aging, and antitumor effects. In this study, we investigated the ameliorating effects on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The EMZAP treatment could ameliorate NAFLD and effectively decrease the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels and a significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein levels was observed. Additionally, the EMZAP treatment reduced the levels of liver-function enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, TGF-β1) and also the oxidative stress indices and regulated the expression of genes associated with fatty acid metabolism (SREBP-1c, PPARα, ACOX-1, CPT-1) in the liver to prevent the development of NAFLD. Furthermore, EMZAP enhanced the diversity and richness of the beneficial intestinal microbes, suggesting its potential as a dietary supplement and functional food to combat NAFLD induced by HFD.

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