Chinese Propolis Prevents Obesity and Metabolism Syndromes Induced by a High Fat Diet and Accompanied by an Altered Gut Microbiota Structure in Mice

Abstract

The increasing incidence of obesity poses a great threat to public health worldwide. Recent reports also indicate the relevance of obesity in metabolic diseases. Chinese propolis (CP), as a well-studied natural nutraceutical, has shown a beneficial effect on alleviating diabetes mellitus. However, few studies have investigated the effect of CP on weight management and energy balance. We examined the beneficial effects of dietary CP on weight in high-fat diet-fed female and male mice and determined whether CP alters gut microbiota. In this study, dietary CP supplementation reduces body weight and improves insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice in a dose-dependent manner. CP treatment also reverses liver weight loss and triglyceride accumulation in association with hepatic steatosis. The 16S rRNA analysis of gut microbiota demonstrated that CP treatment modulates the composition in HFD-fed mice. Our study also suggests that male mice were more sensitive to CP treatment than female mice. Taken together, CP supplementation reduces weight gain and reverses gut microbiome dysbiosis induced by HFD. Further, the effects of CP treatment on metabolic biomarkers and microbiome structure differ by gender.

Botanic Origin of Propolis Extract Powder Drives Contrasted Impact on Diabesity in High-Fat-Fed Mice

“…In agreement, we demonstrated that the PPEP supplementation limited weight gain, mainly via a limitation of fat mass accretion as reflected by the reduced adiposity index in mice HF-diet-fed mice, similarly to previous reports [ 27 , 40 , 41 ]. Such effect was associated to a decrease of leptin plasma levels, which correlated to the reduction in mass of the different fat pads [ 42 ].…”

“…Since we [ 40 ] and others [ 41 ] have reported that the weight gain limitation under PPEP was correlated to an induction of several genes related to fatty acid oxidation/browning in white AT, we explored, in the present study, the expression of genes linked to lipid metabolism. As anticipated, PPEP supplementation, but not other PEPs or the mix, induced the expression of Ppar-α, Mcad, and Lcad, suggesting that PPEP activated a fatty acid oxidative program, known to be associated with enhanced energy expenditure [ 44 ].…”

Biomedical Properties of Propolis on Diverse Chronic Diseases and Its Potential Applications and Health Benefits

“…China HFD-induced C57BL/6 mice Reduces body weight and improves insulin resistance in a dose-dependent manner; reverses liver weight loss and triglyceride accumulation in association with hepatic steatosis. [150] One study showed that intraperitoneal injection of Brazilian green propolis twice per week for 12 weeks caused feeding suppression in obese C57BL/6 mice induced with HFD, and increased leptin mRNA production in the visceral adipose tissues. These findings suggest that Brazilian propolis causes leptin induction in adipocytes and has the potential to attenuate feeding in obese mice and possibly prevent obesity [143].…”

“…Dietary propolis supplementation reduced body weight and improved insulin resistance in the HFD-fed mice in a dose-dependent manner. Propolis treatment also reversed liver weight loss and triglyceride accumulation in association with hepatic steatosis, suggesting that Chinese propolis can prevent diet-induced obesity, and indicating the possibility of using propolis as an alternative method for weight control [ 150 ].…”

Natural Ingredients from Medicine Food Homology as Chemopreventive Reagents against Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Modulating Gut Microbiota Homoeostasis

“…Studies have reported that propolis extract could boost lipid metabolism, alleviate insulin resistance, and delay obesity in high-fat diet-fed mice and rats with T2DM [87]. Propolis were abserved to reverse the elevation of Firmicutes and inflammatory biomarkers expression induced by HFD in the obese mice [88]. Propolis intervention can regulate gut microbiota by decreasing Alistipes, and increasing Lactobacillus in male mice, which are playing an important role in the preventive effect on obesity and T2DM.…”