Asperuloside stimulates metabolic function in rats across several organs under high-fat diet conditions, acting like the major ingredient ofEucommialeaves with anti-obesity activity

Abstract

Eucommia leaves (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver) contain chlorogenic acid (a caffeic acid derivative) and geniposidic acid and asperuloside (ASP), iridoid glucosides used in beverages. We used a metabolic syndrome rat model, produced by feeding a 35 % high-fat diet (HFD), to examine potential anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome effects and mechanisms of chronic administration of ASP. These effects were compared with Eucommia leaf extract (ELE), the positive control, which exhibits anti-obesity effects. A total of six rats were studied for 3 months in five groups. ASP suppressed body weight, visceral fat weight, food intake and circulating levels of glucose, insulin and lipids, and increased the plasma adiponectin level in rats on a HFD. These effects are similar to those of ELE, except for the influence on the plasma glucose level. RT–PCR studies showed that ASP (like ELE with known anti-obesity effects) diminished isocitrate dehydrogenase 3α, NADH dehydrogenase flavoprotein 1 (Comp I) mRNA and fatty acid synthase levels (white adipose tissue), increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, very-long-chain mRNA levels (liver), and increased Glut4, citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase 3α, succinyl CoA synthase, peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, dihydrolipoamide succinyl transferase and succinate dehydrogenase mRNA levels (skeletal muscle) under HFD conditions. Interestingly, ASP administration resulted in significantly increased mRNA levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in the brown adipose tissue of HFD-fed rats; ELE did not affect the expression of UCP1. The increased expression of UCP1 may be negated by many ingredients other than ASP in the ELE. These findings suggest that chronic administration of ASP stimulates anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome activity in HFD-fed rats across several organs, similar to ELE administration; thus, ASP may be an important ingredient of ELE.

Chronic administration of Eucommia leaf extract (ELE) and asperuloside(ASP), the major component of ELE, prevents adipocyte hypertrophy in white adipose tissues

“…Asperuloside (ASP) is indicated as the major ingredient of ELE; it contributes to its anti-obesity effect [8,11]. In the previous study, the administration of ELE or ASP significantly reduced the ratio of WAT weight to the body weight in perirenal WAT and tended to reduce this ratio in epididymal WAT [9,11]. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether ELE and its major component, ASP, affect the size of adipocytes in WAT.…”

“…Eucommia leaf extract (ELE) has been reported to have various bioactive properties [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], such as anti-obesity effects [6][7][8][9][10][11]. Asperuloside (ASP) is indicated as the major ingredient of ELE; it contributes to its anti-obesity effect [8,11]. In the previous study, the administration of ELE or ASP significantly reduced the ratio of WAT weight to the body weight in perirenal WAT and tended to reduce this ratio in epididymal WAT [9,11].…”

“…The test foods were provided ad libitum for 3 months. The doses given to HFD fed animals were determined based on previous studies [9,11]. After chronic administration of ELE and ASP, the body weight was measured, and the rats were sacrificed without stress; the WATs (perirenal WAT and epididymal WAT) were immediately removed.…”

Aroma of Eucommia leaf extract (ELE) causes reduced locomotor activity and increased NREM sleep, acting like the partially related factors of oral ELE's effects with locomotor-activity-dependent-increase in NREM- and REM-sleep

“…Our laboratory data previously reported that asperuloside stimulates metabolic function across several organs in rats under highfat diet conditions, which act as the major ingredient in the anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome activities of ELE [19,36]. In addition, ELE has been found to cause the suppression of appetite, which is partly involved in an anti-obesity effect [37].…”

Effect of Eucommia leaf extract on water consumption in rats is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system

“…In recent years, the study of Eucommia leaf extract (ELE) has been focused on its efficacy in maintaining human health. Reports on the biogenic effectiveness of ELE ingestion have identified the following benefits: 1) antihyperlipidemic effects that reduce visceral fat and suppress elevated levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in the blood [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]; 2) effects on bone, such as preventing the onset of postmenopausal osteoporosis and promoting calcium accumulation in osteoblasts [8][9][10]; 3) antihypertensive effects that slowly decrease blood pressure by maintaining the flexibility of the blood vessels and promoting arterial smooth muscle relaxation [2,11]; 4) rapid eye movement sleep and non-rapid eye movement sleep inducing effect [12]; and 5) preventative effects on ulcerative colitis by asperuloside, one of the major components of ELE [13]. Thus, ELE promotes systemic health.…”