Anti-obesity Effects of the Water Extract from Orostachys japonicus in High-fat Diet-Fed Mice

Abstract

We investigated the anti-obesity effects of the water extract from Orostachys japonicus in high-fat-fed mice. For the analysis, 24 mice were divided into four groups: normal (N) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, highfat diet supplemented with 2.5% O. japonicus (HFD-OJL) group, and high-fat diet supplemented with 5% O. japonicus (HFD-OJH) group. The body weight gain and food efficiency ratio increased with a high-fat diet, but significantly decreased in the HFD-OJ groups compared with those in the HFD group. Levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower, but the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher in the HFD-OJH group. The adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue were found to have expanded in the HFD group. However, the adipocytes in the HFD-OJ groups were comparable to those of the N group. These results suggest that O. japonicus has potential as an anti-obesity agent by decreasing body weight and lowering the serum lipid levels in obese mice.