Prunus mumeandLithospermum erythrorhizonExtracts Synergistically Prevent Visceral Adiposity by Improving Energy Metabolism through Potentiating Hypothalamic Leptin and Insulin Signalling in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract

We investigated the antiobesity and hypoglycemic properties of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc (PMA; Japanese apricot) and Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc (LES; gromwell) extracts in ovariectomized (OVX) rats that impaired energy and glucose homeostasis. OVX rats consumed either 5% dextrose, 5% PMA extract, 5% LES extract, or 2.5% PMA+2.5% LES extract in the high fat diet. After 8 weeks of treatment, PMA+LES prevented weight gain and visceral fat accumulation in OVX rats by lowering daily food intake and increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation. PMA+LES prevented the attenuation of leptin and insulin signaling by increasing the expression of leptin receptor in the hypothalamus in OVX rats. PMA+LES significantly reversed the decrease of energy expenditure in OVX rats by increasing expression of UCP-1 in the brown adipose tissues and UCP-2 and UCP-3 in the quadriceps muscles. PMA+LES also increased CPT-1 expression and decreased FAS, ACC, and SREBP-1c in the liver and quadriceps muscles to result in reducing triglyceride accumulation. PMA+LES improved insulin sensitivity in OVX rats. In conclusion, PMA+LES synergistically prevented the impairment of energy, lipid, and glucose metabolism by OVX through potentiating hypothalamic leptin and insulin signaling. PMA+LES may be a useful intervention for alleviating the symptoms of menopause in women.

Cyanidin and malvidin in aqueous extracts of black carrots fermented with Aspergillus oryzae prevent the impairment of energy, lipid and glucose metabolism in estrogen-deficient rats by AMPK activation

“…All surgical and experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Review Committee of Hoseo University, Korea (2012-03). Experimental animals were freely given water and a high-fat diet containing black carrot extracts for a 12-week experimental period to determine long-term effects of estrogen-deficient metabolism alteration (Ko et al 2013). The high-fat diet was a semi-purified, modified AIN-93 formulation for experimental animals (Reeves et al 1993).…”

“…This procedure was repeated on the contralateral side. The same procedure was carried out for the sham groups except for the removal of the ovaries (Ko et al 2013). Forty OVX rats were randomly assigned to the following four groups of ten rats each: (1) 2 % black carrot extracts (OVX-BC), (2) 2 % black carrot fermented with A. oryzae (OVX-BCAO), (3) black carrot fermented with L. plantarum (OVX-BCLP) and (4) 2 % dextrose (placebo; OVX-control).…”

“…Overnight-fasted serum glucose levels, food and water intake, and body weight were measured every Tuesday at 10 a.m. At the 11th week of the experimental period an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in overnight feed-deprived rats by orally administering 2 g/kg body weight of glucose every 10 min for 90 and 120 min, and serum insulin levels were measured at 0, 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 min (Ko et al 2013). Serum glucose and insulin levels were measured using a Glucometer (Accuchek, Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) and RIA kit (Linco Research, Billerica, MA), respectively.…”

“…The rats were placed into metabolic chambers (airflow = 800 mL/min) with a computer-controlled O 2 and CO 2 measurement system (BIOPAC Systems, Inc., Goleta, CA) to determine their calorimetric parameters. The respiratory quotient (RQ) and resting energy expenditure were calculated using previously reported equations (Ko et al 2013). Average oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) and average carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ) were integrated over periods of 30 min.…”

“…After the experiment, data were averaged over 1-min intervals and VO 2 and VCO 2 values were corrected for metabolic body size (kg 0.75 ). Carbohydrate and fat oxidation were calculated from non-protein oxygen consumption, as were their relative oxidative proportions and the amount of oxygen consumed per gram of substrate oxidized (Ko et al 2013).…”