Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Ovariectomized Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Estrogen deficiency is associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, and increased insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. An efficient therapeutic agent prevents or improves postmenopausal conditions induced by estrogen deficiency. Here, we investigated the effects of aqueous Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. extract on glucose and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were sham-operated or ovariectomized, and 3 weeks later were assigned to the following groups: sham-operated + HFD (S); ovariectomized + HFD (OVX); and ovariectomized + HFD with 0.5% A. pilosa aqueous extract (OVX + 0.5A) groups. Ovariectomy significantly increased body weight and dietary intake relative to the S group. However, A. pilosa treatment did not significantly affect weight gain or dietary intake. Blood triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels tended to decrease in the A. pilosa-supplemented group. Blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the OVX + 0.5A group than those in the OVX group. Blood adiponectin and insulin concentrations increased significantly after A. pilosa treatment in the ovariectomized group. A. pilosa supplementation tended to decrease liver weights and prevented lipid accumulation. These effects correlated with reduced hepatic expression of lipogenesis-related genes (fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase). Therefore, A. pilosa may improve metabolic disorders in ovariectomized rats.

Agrimonia pilosa: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review

“…It also inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, inhibits the increase of liver quality induced by high-fat diet, and improves the degree of fatty liver by downregulating fat formation-related genes, such as fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme; furthermore, A. pilosa extract inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. In addition, the improvement of fatty liver is related to the increase in adiponectin levels and the improvement of insulin resistance [94]. However, a limitation of the present study is that estrogen-like activities of A. pilosa in postmenopausal metabolic syndrome models are not analyzed.…”

Effects of Sheep Bone Collagen Peptide on Liver Lipid Deposition in Ovariectomized Rats

“…After ovariectomy, more FFA was transported to the liver. This not only increases fatty acid b oxidation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also leads to tissue damage and tissue dysfunction (28,29). ROS can also interact with polyunsaturated fatty acids and trigger intracellular lipid peroxidation.…”

Flavonoid compound from Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb improves adipose insulin resistance by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation

“…After tremendous endeavors, studies showed avonoids had anti-oxidative activity [13,14], acted on immune system to exert anti-in ammatory effect [15], and also had a positive effect on insulin sensitivity [16]. What's more, it has been widely documented that Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb provided a considerable resistance to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in insulin incubated-HepG2 cells [17] or high-fat diet-fed rats [18,19]. Our previous study also indicated that extracts from Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb could reinforce insulin sensitization through PPARγ [12].…”