Hepatoprotective and anti-obesity effects of Korean blue honeysuckle extracts in high fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

[Purpose]This study aimed to study the protective effects and mechanism of Blue Honeysuckle (BH) extracts (Berries of Lonicera caerulea L.) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obesity risk factors in a high fat-diet (HFD) model.[Methods]Animals adapted to HFD were selected after 1 week of adaption period and divided into 6 groups (8 mice in each group; 40 HFD-fed mice and 8 normal fat pellet diet (NFD)-fed mice). After the end of 12 weeks of continuous oral administrations of 3 different dosages of BH extract, 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, or metformin 250 mg/kg, dissolved in a volume of 10 mL/kg distilled water, the hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, nephroprotective, and anti-obesity effects were analyzed.[Results]The BH extract improved fat density and mass, adipocyte histopathology, hepatocyte hypertrophy, hepatic enzyme activity, lipid metabolism, and related gene expression including ACC1, AMPK α1 and AMPK α2 in hepatic tissue, leptin, UCP2, adiponectin, C/EBP α, C/EBPβ and SREBP1c in adipose tissue. Especially, 200 mg/kg of BH extract constantly improved NAFLD and obesity risk factors through AMPK upregulation-mediated hepatic glucose enzyme activity, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and activation of the antioxidant defense system, to a level comparable to that of metformin 250 mg/kg in HFD-fed mice.[Conclusion]BH extract has the potential to reduce the risk factors associated with obesity, in addition to the remarkable effect of preventing NAFLD. Future research will need to be done to determine whether these results are consistent in human studies.

Blue honeysuckle rich in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside inhibited adipogenic differentiation by modulation of the adipogenesis pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

“…The results from our study imply that the BH could be effective in regard to preventing obesity by inhibiting the lipid accumulation, even though the size and the percentage of lipid accumulation between 500 and 1,000 µg/mL were not correlated. A previous study reported that the BH reduced body fat, the abdominal fat density, the total cholesterol, and triglycerides under HFD mice (20). According to a recent study, the BH at 1 mg/mL reduced both adipocyte lipid contents up to 82% and the lipid droplet size (19).…”

Haskap Berry Leaves (Lonicera caerulea L.)—The Favorable Potential of Medical Use

“…However, it should be noted that the model used is based solely on the digestive enzyme secreted into the intestine. So far, studies have been performed only based on extracts obtained from fruit, which showed anti-obesity and liver protective activity and inhibited fat accumulation in the liver [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 ]. The obtained results allow us to conclude about the possible hypolipidemic effect of the raw material; however, to estimate the full potential, the effect of the raw material on intracellular enzymes and signaling pathways should be investigated.…”

Evaluation of Immunotropic Activity of Iridoid-Anthocyanin Extract of Honeysuckle Berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) in the Course of Experimental Trichinellosis in Mice

“…The compounds exert strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may be helpful in wound healing [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. LC fruit extract administered to mice and rats with disorders of lipid and glucose metabolism showed hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects [ 10 , 14 , 15 ]. Polyphenols from LC berries affected intestinal microflora in mice fed with a high-fat diet.…”