Effects of Fortunella margarita Fruit Extract on Metabolic Disorders in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

IntroductionObesity is a nutritional disorder associated with many health problems such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated the anti-metabolic disorder effects of kumquat (Fortunella margarita Swingle) fruit extract (FME) on high-fat diet-induced C57BL/6 obese mice.MethodsThe kumquat fruit was extracted with ethanol and the main flavonoids of this extract were analyzed by HPLC. For the preventive experiment, female C57BL/6 mice were fed with a normal diet (Chow), high-fat diet (HF), and high-fat diet with 1% (w/w) extract of kumquat (HF+FME) for 8 weeks. For the therapeutic experiment, female C57BL/6 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 3 months to induce obesity. Then the obese mice were divided into two groups randomly, and fed with HF or HF+FME for another 2 weeks. Body weight and daily food intake amounts were recorded. Fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, serum and liver lipid levels were assayed and the white adipose tissues were imaged. The gene expression in mice liver and brown adipose tissues were analyzed with a quantitative PCR assay.ResultsIn the preventive treatment, FME controlled the body weight gain and the size of white adipocytes, lowered the fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol (TC), serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels as well as liver lipid contents in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice. In the therapeutic treatment, FME decreased the serum triglyceride (TG), serum TC, serum LDL-c, fasting blood glucose levels and liver lipid contents, improved glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance. Compared with the HF group, FME significantly increased the mRNA expression of PPARα and its target genes.ConclusionOur study suggests that FME may be a potential dietary supplement for preventing and ameliorating the obesity and obesity-related metabolic disturbances.

Ameliorative effects of lutein on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats

“…Based on these findings, we established an NAFLD model in rats fed a HFD [17] and supplied them with different doses of lutein, with the aim to explore the effect of lutein supplementation on NAFLD and to investigate the involved mechanisms.…”

Fortunella japonica extract as a reducing agent for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

“…The extracts from Fortunella Japonica fruit and peel have previously been reported to contain various nutrients and components such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, essential oils, and flavonoids [23]. The previous publications on Fortunella Japonica have provided evidences about abilities to promote health effects and pharmacological activities of Fortunella Japonica extract, including antioxidant activity [24], anti-metabolic disorder [25], and antimicrobial [26]. However, up to now no paper of AgNPs synthesis has been reported using Fortunella Japonica extract as a combined reducing and stabilizing agent.…”

Chemical Profiling Using Uplc Q‐Tof/Ms and Antioxidant Activities of Fortunella Fruits

“…Several studies have reported antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of Fortunella extracts (Sadek and others ; Jayaprakasha and others ). In addition, Fortunella extracts prevent and meliorate the obesity and obesity–related metabolic disorders of mice, showing promising utilization as potential dietary supplement (Tan and others ). Moreover, a recent study suggests that Fortunella pericarp activates natural killer cells, which plays a key role in innate immune defense against cancer and infectious disease (Nagahama and others ).…”