Anti-Sarcopenic Obesity Effects of Lonicera caerulea Extract in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Abstract

Sarcopenic obesity is a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Although several herbal extracts showed improvement on sarcopenia and obesity, respectively, there are few studies on sarcopenic obesity. Lonicera caerulea (honeysuckle berry, HB) can ameliorate metabolic disorders including obesity. However, its effects on sarcopenic obesity have not been reported yet. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether HB extract might have any beneficial effects on sarcopenic obesity in high-fat diet-induced mice. Forty-eight mice were classified into six groups and treated for eight weeks: (1) NC, normal diet control; (2) HC, high-fat diet control; (3) PC, high-fat diet with orlistat; (4) HB100, high-fat diet with HB extract at 100 mg/kg; (5) HB200, high-fat diet with HB extract at 200 mg/kg; and (6) HB400, high-fat diet with HB extract at 400 mg/kg. Body weight, fat accumulation, muscle mass, muscle strength, and mRNA expression of muscle atrophy were monitored. Compared with the HC group, HB administration showed anti-obesity properties. It reduced body weight gain and modulated serum biochemical parameters and tissue antioxidant enzymes. HB also increased muscle strength and muscle mass of hind legs. In addition, it decreased mRNA expression levels of Atrogin1 and MuRF1 as markers of muscle atrophy but increased PGC1α and SIRT1 as markers of muscle growth. These results suggest that HB might be effective in preventing sarcopenia associated with obesity.

Honeysuckle Berry (Lonicera caerulea L.) Inhibits Lipase Activity and Modulates the Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

“…As expected, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C3G), a type of anthocyanin, was a major component, suggesting that it inhibits pancreatic lipase activity. Furthermore, we found HB increased the fecal TG level in this study and confirmed that HB decreased the serum TG level in our previous study [ 22 ]. These results support our results, suggesting that HB could be developed as a lipid absorption inhibitor.…”

“…Raw HB fruits were extracted as described previously [ 22 ]. The amount of C3G, one of the major anthocyanins in HB extract, was measured to be 11.12 mg/g [ 22 ].…”

“…Raw HB fruits were extracted as described previously [ 22 ]. The amount of C3G, one of the major anthocyanins in HB extract, was measured to be 11.12 mg/g [ 22 ]. The HB extract was stored at −20 °C and dissolved in a 0.5% aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na, TCI, Tokyo, Japan).…”

“…H&E staining was performed according to the previously described method [ 22 ]. Briefly, the epididymal fat tissue was fixed, waxed, cut, and stained with H&E. Subsequently, sample images were taken using a Nikon DS-Ri2 camera (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan).…”

“…HB has an ameliorating effect on metabolic diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes [ 20 , 21 ]. Our previous study reported that HB has anti-sarcopenic obesity effects by reducing body weight and increasing muscle mass in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice [ 22 ], and we hypothesized that HB regulates the aberrant gut microbiota due to an HFD as a follow-up idea. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there have been few studies on obesity due to lipase inhibiting activity and the modulation of the gut microbiota, even though many studies have examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HB.…”