Anti-Diabetic Obesity Effects of Wasabia Japonica Matsum Leaf Extract on 45% Kcal High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of Wasabi leaf (WL) on 45% Kcal high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mild diabetic obese mice. In particular, the hepatoprotective (i.e., liver weight, histopathology of liver, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase) effects of 12 weeks of continuous oral administration of 250 mg/kg metformin, and 200, 100, or 50 mg/kg WL were investigated. In addition, the hypolipidemic (i.e., serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels), hypoglycemic (i.e., glycated hemoglobin, blood glucose and insulin levels, pancreatic weight, and immunohistochemical-histopathological analysis of the pancreas), and anti-obesity effects (i.e., body weight, mean food consumption, total and abdominal body fat mass, periovarian fat weight, and histopathology of the periovarian and abdominal wall adipocytes) were monitored. The liver and general antioxidant defense systems were also assessed by lipid metabolism-related gene expression. All diabetes manifestations and related complications, including obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), were dose-dependently reduced after 84 days of oral treatment with metformin or each of the three dosages of WL. In particular, 50 mg/kg WL showed effective suppression effects against HFD-induced diabetes and related complications of obesity, NAFLD, and hyperlipidemia, comparable to the effects of metformin.

Lemon Balm and Corn Silk Extracts Mitigate High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice

“…Owing to the gender differences in food consumption, physical activity, and so on, prevalence of obesity in females is generally higher than in males [ 53 ]. In this regard, we previously established HFD-induced obesity model using female ICR mice [ 19 , 20 , 54 ]. To elucidate optimal ratio of M-LB/CS showing anti-obesity activity, female mice were administered HFD and various combination ratios of M-LB/CS for 84 days.…”

“…To analyze body and abdominal fat density, euthanized mice were scanned using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (InAlyzer; Medikors, Seungnam, Korea), as previously described [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Fixation of abdominal and periovarian fat pads, paraffin embedding, sectioning, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were conducted, as described previously [ 19 , 20 ]. After observing fat tissues under light microscope (Eclipse 80 i ; Nikon, Tokyo, Japan), the thickness of the deposited fat pad (mm) and the mean diameter of 10 adipocytes (μm) were measured using an automated image analyzer ( i Solution FL ver9.1; IMT i -solution Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada).…”

“…Lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione level, and specific activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were determined using liver homogenates, according to the previously established methods [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Anti-Obesity Effect of an Ethanol Extract of Cheongchunchal In Vitro and In Vivo

“…Many studies focused on anti-obesity drugs and functional foods are being conducted to address the recently increasing number of obesity cases [ 22 , 23 ]. Additionally, many studies are being conducted to verify the effectiveness of anti-obesity drugs and functional foods with natural substances, as well as to reduce the various side effects of some commercial anti-obesity drugs [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. This study was a basic study aimed at developing anti-obesity drugs and functional foods from natural substances.…”