高脂食物诱导的肥胖小鼠不同脑区即刻早期蛋白和酪氨酸羟化酶的变化

目的：在高脂食物诱导肥胖的小鼠中检测多巴胺神经元的表达。方法：10只雄性小鼠饲喂高脂膳食作为高脂食物组（HFD）,10只雄性小鼠饲喂10%脂肪膳食作为对照组（NCD）。实验第10周,小鼠禁食12 h后称重,尾静脉取血测定基础血糖水平;实验11周进行葡萄糖耐受（GTT）测试和胰岛素抵抗实验（ITT）;实验12周,动物禁食4 h后处死,测定血清胰岛素和瘦素（leptin）浓度,免疫组织化学法检测即刻早期蛋白（c-Fos-ir）和酪氨酸羟化酶（TH-ir）的表达。结果：饲喂12周高脂食物后,HFD组体重明显增加。GTT测试显示HFD组在15 min和30 min血糖浓度均明显高于NCD组（P<0.05）。ITT测试显示HFD组在15 min和30 min血糖浓度均显著高于NCD组（P<0.05）。同时,禁食后,HFD组的胰岛素浓度和leptin浓度显著高于NCD组（P<0.01）。免疫组化结果表明HFD组在伏隔核、下丘脑室旁核、腹侧背盖区和黑质的c-Fos-ir细胞数均明显多于NCD组（P<0.01）,且腹侧被盖区和黑质的TH-ir和共表达TH/Fos-ir细胞也显著多于NCD组（P<0.01）。而且HFD组VTA区和SN区TH-ir的细胞数与HFD组小鼠的终体重呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：长期饲喂高脂食物导致的肥胖与奖赏系统多巴胺神经元的可塑性有关。     

HFD对不同性别SD大鼠肠道菌群及室旁核小胶质细胞激活的影响

【目的】通过建立雌、雄性SD (Sprague-Dawley)大鼠模型,研究高脂饮食(high fat diet,HFD)对不同性别大鼠肠道菌群及室旁核(hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus,PVN)区小胶质细胞激活的影响。【方法】选取24只3周龄的SD大鼠,雌雄各半,随机分成雄性对照组(CM)、雌性对照组(CF),雄性高脂组(HM)、雌性高脂组(HF),共4组,每组6只。喂养至10周龄,收集大鼠新鲜粪便并提取细菌总基因组DNA,通过PCR扩增16SrDNA的V3+V4区域,进行高通量测序;采用气相色谱法分析大鼠盲肠内容物中短链脂肪酸(short chain fatty acids,SCFAs)含量;以real-time PCR技术分析PVN区小胶质细胞激活标记物CD11b和炎性细胞因子TNF-α、IL-6的m RNA相对表达水平。【结果】雌、雄高脂组分别与对照组相比,HM组大鼠肠道菌群总数及菌群多样性明显减少(P<0.05),HF组大鼠肠道菌群丰度明显减少(P<0.05)。与CM组相比,HM组大鼠盲肠中乙酸含量显著下降(P<0.0...     

小檗碱对大鼠肠道菌群结构的体外影响

目的研究小檗碱在体外对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖、胰岛素抵抗大鼠(HFD)肠道菌群和正常饮食对照大鼠(NCD)肠道菌群结构的体外影响。方法采用体外厌氧培养、PCR-DGGE和454焦磷酸测序技术研究小檗碱对肠道菌群结构和多样性的影响。结果 DGGE指纹图谱和454焦磷酸测序结果都表明,小檗碱可以改变肠道菌群的结构,高剂量的小檗碱可以减少肠道微生物的多样性。应用偏最小二乘法判别模型分析(PLS-DA)挑选与小檗碱相关的细菌类群(OTU),在HFD组中挑选了55个关键OTUs,其中53个被明显抑制或消除,剩余2个分别属于Proteus和Escherichia/Shigella属的OTUs则被小檗碱富集。在NCD组中挑选的51个关键OTUs中,32个被小檗碱抑制,17个被小檗碱富集。被富集的除了属于Klebsielal属的OTU外,还包括可以产生短链脂肪酸的Lactobacillus、Blautia属的OTUs。结论小檗碱可以直接调节肠道菌群的结构,对不同结构的肠道菌群其作用也不相同,不同浓度的小檗碱对肠道菌群的影响有较大差异。高浓度的小檗碱可以抑制大部分细菌的生长(其中有很多为肠道条件致病菌),减少肠道微生物的多样性,富集Enterobacteriaceae科的细菌(Proteus、Escherichia/Shigella、Klebsielal)。相较于HFD组,小檗碱可以显著富集NCD组大鼠肠道菌群中的短链脂肪酸产生菌。     

高脂肪日粮和产甲烷菌抑制剂对C57BL/6J小鼠盲肠微生物及脂肪代谢的影响

【目的】本文旨在研究产甲烷菌抑制剂溴氯甲烷(BCM)对采食高、低脂肪水平日粮小鼠的肠道微生物以及脂肪代谢的影响。【方法】选取32只21日龄的雌性C57BL/6J小鼠,随机分成4组:对照低脂日粮组、对照低脂日粮加BCM组、高脂日粮组及高脂日粮加BCM组,每组8个重复,BCM通过饮水添加。饲养周期为6周,试验期结束,采集小鼠血液样品,用于生化指标分析;采集小鼠盲肠内容物,用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和real-time PCR技术分析其菌群;气相色谱法分析粪样中短链脂肪酸含量;real-time PCR技术分析肝脏中脂肪代谢相关基因表达。【结果】高脂日粮和BCM处理对小鼠体增重均无显著影响;DGGE图谱中低脂日粮组和高脂日粮组样品聚于不同簇,但对各组总细菌、产甲烷菌和硫还原菌数量无显著影响。高脂日粮组粪样中乙酸占总挥发酸比例显著降低(P0.05);BCM处理显著增加小鼠粪样丙酸比例(P0.05);高脂日粮处理显著影响高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和总胆固醇含量(P0.05);高脂日粮处理促进了甘油三酯水解酶表达(P0.05)。【结论】高脂日粮对小鼠肠道菌群结构以及脂肪代谢有明显影响,而BCM处理影响较小。     

高脂肪日粮和产甲烷菌抑制剂对C57BL/6J小鼠盲肠微生物及脂肪代谢的影响

摘要:【目的】本文旨在研究产甲烷菌抑制剂溴氯甲烷(BCM)对采食高、低脂肪水平日粮小鼠的肠道微生物以及脂肪代谢的影响。【方法】选取32只21日龄的雌性C57BL/6J小,随机分成4组:对照低脂日粮组、对照低脂日粮加BCM组、高脂日粮组及高脂日粮加BCM组,每组8个重复,BCM通过饮水添加。饲养周期为6周,试验期结束,采集小鼠血液样品,用于生化指标分析;采集小鼠盲肠内容物,用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和real-time PCR技术分析其菌群;气相色谱法分析粪样中短链脂肪酸含量;real-time PCR技术分析 肝脏中脂肪代谢相关基因表达。【结果】高脂日粮和BCM处理对小鼠体增重均无显著影响;DGGE图谱中低脂日粮组和高脂日粮组样品聚于不同簇,但对各组总细菌、产甲烷菌和硫还原菌数量无显著影响。高脂日粮组粪样中乙酸占总挥发酸比例显著降低(P＜0.05);BCM处理显著增加小鼠粪样丙酸比例(P＜0.05);高脂日粮处理显著影响高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和总胆固醇含量(P＜0.05);高脂日粮处理促进了甘油三酯水解酶表达(P＜0.05)。【结论】高脂日粮对小鼠肠道菌群结构以及脂肪代谢有明显影响,而BCM处理影响较小。     

高脂饮食对雄性SD大鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨通过膳食饲喂高脂饲料诱发的高脂血症大鼠肠道菌群结构的变化。方法 24只SD（Spra-gue Dawley,SD）雄性大鼠随机分为A、B两组,分别连续饲喂基础饲料和高脂饲料42 d,并于第0、9、18、30和42天采集大鼠粪便,应用DGGE（Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis）和q-PCR技术对肠道菌群进行定性定量分析。结果第42天时A、B组大鼠血清总胆固醇值（TC）分别为（2.01±0.14）mmol/L、（5.16±0.22）mmol/L,B组TC水平较A组明显增高（P〈0.05）。DGGE电泳图谱显示B组42 d时肠道菌群构成较0 d时变化显著,而A组不同时期肠道菌落构成无明显差异。q-PCR定量结果显示,随着饲喂高脂饲料天数的增加,B组小鼠肠道内乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属较0 d明显降低（P〈0.01）,而拟杆菌门数量呈递减趋势且趋势比较平缓;梭菌属呈递增趋势且增幅相对拟杆菌门的变化较大。结论高脂饮食可导致肠道菌群结构的改变,这种改变会进一步促进高脂血症的形成。     

黄芪水提取物减轻高脂饮食引起的小鼠肥胖

目的:研究黄芪水提取物(Astragalus radix extract,ARE)对高脂饮食(High fat diet,HFD)引起的小鼠肥胖的作用及可能机制。方法:将30只C57 BL/6小鼠随机分为正常喂养组(ND组,n=10)、高脂喂养组(HFD组,n=10)和高脂喂养+黄芪水提取物处理组(ARE组,n=10)。记录三组小鼠体重及食物摄入。在喂养16周时,对小鼠附睾白色脂肪称重,并进行HE染色观察脂肪细胞大小;对小鼠肝脏进行进行HE染色观察肝脏脂肪变性情况。应用ELISA方法检测血清瘦素及脂联素水平。应用Western Blot检测脂肪组织过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(Peroxisome proliferator activated receptorγ,PPARγ)表达。结果:1与ND组相比,HFD组体重及热量摄入均显著增加,表明肥胖模型建立成功;ARE处理组的体重较HFD组显著下降,但其热量摄入与HFD组相当。2与ND组相比,HFD组白色脂肪组织重量增加、脂肪细胞增大、肝细胞出现显著脂肪变性;ARE处理组上述指标较HFD组明显改善。3与ND组相比,HFD组瘦素水平升高、脂联素水平下降;ARE处理组与HFD组相比,瘦素水平降低、脂联素水平升高。4与ND组相比,HFD组PPARγ表达显著增加,而ARE处理组较HFD组PPARγ表达下降。结论:黄芪水提取物可能通过抑制PPARγ减轻高质饮食引起的肥胖。     

基于肠道菌群和短链脂肪酸代谢探讨不同饮食条件下高脂血症大鼠发病机制

目的 本研究拟对比两种不同高脂饮食方式诱导的高脂血症大鼠肠道菌群变化与短链脂肪酸代谢特征,以宿主-肠道菌群-代谢角度探讨高脂血症可能的微观机制。方法 SPF级SD大鼠分为：正常饮食组(CG组):饲喂大鼠维持饲料;高脂饮食组(HFD1组):每天足量饲喂高脂饲料;限饲高脂饮食组(HFD2组):每天限量饲喂高脂饲料80 g,不限量饲喂维持饲料。8周后检测血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平;苏木精-伊红(HE)染色观察大鼠肝组织和肾周脂肪病理学变化;取结肠内容物进行16S rDNA高通量测序,观察肠道菌群结构与功能的变化,并检测结肠内容物中短链脂肪酸的含量。结果 与CG组相比,HFD1组和HFD2组大鼠摄食量下降,体重升高;血清中TC、TG、LDL-C均显著升高;肝组织发生明显脂肪变性,肾周脂肪出现炎性病变;高脂干预后大鼠肠道菌群相对丰度显著变化,其中乳杆菌属相对丰度明显降低,菌群结构和功能变化明显,总短链脂肪酸、乙酸、丁酸、异丁酸下降显著。结论 两种高脂饮食方式均能引起大鼠高脂血症,且发病机制基本一致,均与脂质代谢以...     

抗性淀粉对HFA小鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的 以人源菌群(HFA)小鼠为研究模型,观察抗性淀粉(RS)对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠肠道菌群的多样性的影响.方法 将30只无菌小鼠接种健康人志愿者的粪便悬液构建HFA小鼠模型后,随机分成3组,一组喂养含20％的抗性淀粉的高脂饲料(RS组),一组喂养纯高脂饲料(CK组),一组喂养普通饲料(CONV组),取第0周和第8周的小鼠新鲜粪便,用PCR-DGGE分析3组小鼠的肠道菌群的相似性和多样性.结果 3组小鼠在第0周时肠道菌群多样性的相似度达到79％～87％,与人的肠道菌群相似性达到39％,说明构建HFA小鼠模型成功,第8周时,3组之间的均匀度(E)和Shannon指数差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而丰富度(S)在高脂组(CK)与普通饲料组(CONV)和抗性淀粉组(RS)之间差异都有统计学意义(P＜0.05),说明高脂饮食引起肠道菌群多样性增加,而抗性淀粉则能降低这种多样性.结论 抗性淀粉可以显著影响HFA小鼠的肠道菌群多样性.     

泽泻对高脂高糖饮食大鼠肠道菌群多样性的影响

目的研究泽泻对高脂高糖饮食大鼠的降血脂作用与肠道菌群多样性的相关性,并测定高脂高糖饮食大鼠肠道菌群丰度与多样性的变化。方法将32只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分成正常组(control group,CON)、高脂高糖模型组(high-fat and high-sucrose diet group,HFS)、高脂高糖饲料加二甲双胍干预组(metformin treatment group,MET)和高脂高糖饲料加泽泻醇提取物干预组(Alisma orientale extract group,AOE)。每组8只,造模4周后分别灌胃给予相应药物,连续4周。CON组和HFS组灌胃给予生理盐水。检测血清TC、TG、LDL-C及HDL-C水平及其他指标,提取肠道菌群总DNA,分析肠道微生物的变化。结果 HFS组的TC、LDL-C水平明显高于CON组(Ps0.05),给药4周后,AOE组TC、LDL-C水平均显著性降低(Ps0.05)。高通量测序结果显示,AOE组中与脂质代谢、多聚糖生物合成与代谢相关的肠道菌群多样性及丰度增加显著,肠道菌群的生态环境得以改善,形成了新的肠道菌群稳态。结论泽泻醇提取物可以有效降低高脂高糖饮食大鼠的血脂水平,对其肝脏具有保护作用。泽泻醇提取物也能通过改变肠道菌群的丰度、多样性和功能类群等靶标进行脂质代谢调节。     

Yerba mate extract (Ilex paraguariensis) attenuates both central and peripheral inflammatory effects of diet-induced obesity in rats

To clarify the effects of natural dietary components on the metabolic consequences of obesity, we examined the effects of yerba mate extract Ilex paraguariensis on both central and peripheral inflammatory effects of diet-induced obesity and correlated the hypothalamic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level with adipose depot weight. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control group (CTL) fed with chow diet, a second group fed with chow diet plus yerba mate extract (CTL+E), a third group fed with a high-fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids (HFD) and a fourth group fed with HFD plus yerba mate extract (HFD+E). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, colorimetric method and treatment by gavage were utilized as materials and methods. The HFD groups showed a significant increase in food intake (kcal), body weight, adipose tissue and leptin level in comparison to CTL and CTL+E. HFD leads to increase of both central and peripheral inflammatory effects, and deregulation of insulin pathway. In addition, yerba mate extract intake blunted the proinflammatory effects of diet-induced obesity in rats by reducing the phosphorylation of hypothalamic IKK and NFκBp65 expression and increasing the protein levels of IκBα, the expression of adiponectin receptor-1 and consequently the amount of IRS-2. Moreover, the increase in interleukin (IL)-6 levels in the liver and muscle and of the IL-10/TNF-α ratio in groups that received yerba mate extract showed the anti-inflammatory effects of this natural substance. Taken together, our data suggest that the use of yerba mate extract may be useful for reducing low-grade obesity-associated inflammation.     

高脂饲料诱导的肥胖大鼠肠道内硫酸盐还原菌的定量检测

目的 检测高脂饲料诱导大鼠肥胖过程中,大鼠肠道内硫酸盐还原菌( sulfate-reducing bacteria,SRB)的数量变化,为研究SRB与肥胖的关系提供参考.方法 20只Wistar大鼠随机分为2组(每组10只),一组饲喂高脂饲料(HFD组)18周,另一组饲喂正常饲料(NCD组,即对照组)18周.以编码腺苷酰硫酸还原酶α亚基的基因(aprA)作为分子标记,通过荧光定量PCR的方法检测两组大鼠在0、8和18周,肠道内SRB的数量变化;同时,以16S rRNA基因作为标记基因定量大鼠肠道内总菌的数量,以计算肠道内SRB在总菌中的比例变化.结果 分组饲喂8周后,高脂饲料饲喂组大鼠的体重与正常饲料组相比显著升高.对SRB的定量结果显示,饲喂8周和18周,高脂饲料组大鼠肠道内SRB的数量和含量与正常饲料组相比显著升高.结论 大鼠肠道中的硫酸盐还原菌与饮食诱导的肥胖密切相关,为进一步研究SRB在肥胖及其相关代谢疾病的发生发展中的作用提供了依据.     

Time-restricted feeding without reducing caloric intake prevents metabolic diseases in mice fed a high-fat diet

While diet-induced obesity has been exclusively attributed to increased caloric intake from fat, animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD) ad libitum (ad lib) eat frequently throughout day and night, disrupting the normal feeding cycle. To test whether obesity and metabolic diseases result from HFD or disruption of metabolic cycles, we subjected mice to either ad lib or time-restricted feeding (tRF) of a HFD for 8 hr per day. Mice under tRF consume equivalent calories from HFD as those with ad lib access yet are protected against obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation and have improved motor coordination. The tRF regimen improved CREB, mTOR, and AMPK pathway function and oscillations of the circadian clock and their target genes' expression. These changes in catabolic and anabolic pathways altered liver metabolome and improved nutrient utilization and energy expenditure. We demonstrate in mice that tRF regimen is a nonpharmacological strategy against obesity and associated diseases.     

Dietary cholesterol reverses resistance to diet-induced weight gain in mice lacking Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1

Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) mediates intestinal cholesterol absorption. NPC1L1 knockout (L1-KO) mice were recently shown to be resistant to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in one study, which was contrary to several other studies. Careful comparison of dietary compositions in these studies implies a potential role of dietary cholesterol in regulating weight gain. To examine this potential, wild-type (WT) and L1-KO mice were fed one of three sets of diets for various durations: (1) a HFD without added cholesterol for 5 weeks; (2) a high-carbohydrate diet with or without added cholesterol for 5 weeks; or (3) a synthetic HFD with or without added cholesterol for 18 weeks. We found that L1-KO mice were protected against diet-induced weight gain only on a diet without added cholesterol but not on a diet containing 0.16% or 0.2% (w/w) cholesterol, an amount similar to a typical Western diet, regardless of the major energy source of the diet. Food intake and intestinal fat absorption were similar between the two genotypes. Intestinal cholesterol absorption was blocked, and fecal cholesterol excretion increased in L1-KO mice. Under all diets, L1-KO mice were protected from hepatosteatosis. In conclusion, increasing dietary cholesterol restores diet-induced weight gain in mice deficient in NPC1L1-dependent cholesterol absorption.     

Moderate red-wine consumption partially prevents body weight gain in rats fed a hyperlipidic diet

Red wine is a beverage that can exert a broad spectrum of health-promoting actions both in humans and laboratory animal models if consumed moderately. However, information about its effect on body weight is scarce. We have evaluated the effect of moderate red wine consumption on body weight and energy intake in male Zucker lean rats fed a hypercaloric diet for 8 weeks. For this purpose, we used three 5-animal groups: a high-fat diet group (HFD), a high-fat-diet red-wine-drinking group (HFRWD), and a standard diet group (SD). After 8 weeks, the HFRWD group had a lower body weight gain (175.66 +/- 2.78% vs 188.22 +/- 4.83%; P<.05) and lower energy intake (269.45 +/- 4.02 KJ/animal.day vs day vs 300.81 +/- 4.52 KJ/animal.day; P<.05) and had less fat mass at epididymal location respect to the whole body weight (0.014 +/- 0.001 vs 0.017 +/- 0.001; P<.05) than the HFD group. However, the red wine didn't modified the fed efficiency 0.012 +/- 0.001 g/KJ for HFRWD group versus 0.013 +/- 0.001 g/KJ for the HFD one (P=.080). These findings, though preliminary, show that moderate red wine intake can prevent the increase of body weight by modulating energy intake in a rat diet-induced model of obesity.     

Characterization of Pancreatic Islets in Two Selectively Bred Mouse Lines with Different Susceptibilities to High-Fat Diet-Induced Glucose Intolerance

Hereditary predisposition to diet-induced type 2 diabetes has not yet been fully elucidated. We recently established 2 mouse lines with different susceptibilities (resistant and prone) to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance by selective breeding (designated selectively bred diet-induced glucose intolerance-resistant [SDG-R] and -prone [SDG-P], respectively). To investigate the predisposition to HFD-induced glucose intolerance in pancreatic islets, we examined the islet morphological features and functions in these novel mouse lines. Male SDG-P and SDG-R mice were fed a HFD for 5 weeks. Before and after HFD feeding, glucose tolerance was evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Morphometry and functional analyses of the pancreatic islets were also performed before and after the feeding period. Before HFD feeding, SDG-P mice showed modestly higher postchallenge blood glucose levels and lower insulin increments in OGTT than SDG-R mice. Although SDG-P mice showed greater β cell proliferation than SDG-R mice under HFD feeding, SDG-P mice developed overt glucose intolerance, whereas SDG-R mice maintained normal glucose tolerance. Regardless of whether it was before or after HFD feeding, the isolated islets from SDG-P mice showed impaired glucose- and KCl-stimulated insulin secretion relative to those from SDG-R mice; accordingly, the expression levels of the insulin secretion-related genes in SDG-P islets were significantly lower than those in SDG-R islets. These findings suggest that the innate predispositions in pancreatic islets may determine the susceptibility to diet-induced diabetes. SDG-R and SDG-P mice may therefore be useful polygenic animal models to study the gene–environment interactions in the development of type 2 diabetes.     

Energy balance and facultative diet-induced thermogenesis in mice fed a high-fat diet

The present study was aimed at studying energy balance in mice fed a high-fat diet. Albino mice were divided into three groups. One group had free access to the stock diet, whereas the two other groups consumed a high-fat diet. One of the high-fat fed groups was fed ad libitum, whereas the other was offered a restricted amount of the same diet so that its energy intake was comparable to the group of mice given the stock diet. Energy balance measurements, which included indirect calorimetry and carcass analysis, were performed. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) properties were also investigated. The results show that gains in both body weight and fat were higher in mice that had free access to high-fat diet than in mice fed the stock diet. In animals given a restricted amount of the high-fat diet, fat gain increased, whereas protein gain was reduced in comparison with animals fed the stock diet. Unrestricted access to the high-fat diet led to an increase in both energy intake and energy gain. As revealed by both slaughter and indirect calorimetry techniques energy expenditure was, in high-fat fed mice, 40% higher than in animals fed either stock or a restricted amount of high-fat diet. Nadolol was shown to suppress a large part of the elevated metabolic rate seen in mice fed an unrestricted high-fat diet. In those mice, BAT mitochondrial GDP binding was also increased. In summary, the present results confirm that adaptive diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) develops in mice made hyperphagic by an energy-dense palatable diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulatory effect of diosgenin on lipogenic genes expression in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in the world, increasing the risk of other chronic diseases. Alterations in fatty acid synthesis related genes are crucially involved in obesity progression. Diosgenin (DG) was one of the phytosterols compounds with vital activity against lipid disorders. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate the protective effect of DG on lipogenesis in the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice, via investigating the expression of two of the fatty acid synthesis–involved genes; sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) genes. Thirty adult male mice were divided into 3 groups. Control group, fed with normal diet; HFD group, mice fed with a high-fat diet and HFD + DG group, mice fed with a high-fat diet and supplemented in parallel with DG for 6 consecutive weeks. The effect of DG on Body weights, liver enzymes, lipid profile, were evaluated. Histopathological fatty changes as well as SREBP-1c and FASN gene expression were also investigated. DG significantly alleviated body weight gain, adjusted liver enzymes, and improved lipid profile. Additionally, DG ameliorated the histopathological changes by reducing the lipid vacuoles and hence the hepatosteatosis. Accordingly, DG significantly downregulated the two-fold increase in the SREBP-1c and FASN gene expression observed in the HFD group. In conclusion, DG possesses a beneficial impact against diet-induced obesity in mice, which makes it a good candidate for NAFLD and obesity prevention.     

Anti-Obesity Effects of Melastoma malabathricum var Alba Linn in Rats Fed with a High-Fat Diet

Obesity is one of the major public health problems worldwide and it is generally associated with many diseases. Although synthetic drugs are available for the treatment of obesity, herbal remedies may provide safe, natural, and cost-effective alternative to synthetic drugs. One example of such drugs is Melastoma malabathricum var Alba Linn (MM). Although several studies have been reported for the pharmacological activities of MM, there is no report on the anti-obesity effect of MM. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-obesity potential of methanolic extract of MM. The anti-obesity effect of MM on rats fed with a high-fat diet was investigated through determination of the changes in body weight, fat weight, organ weights, and blood biochemicals. The animals in this study were divided into three groups: a normal group with a standard diet (N), a control group fed with high-fat diet (C), and a MM treatment group fed with high-fat (HFD + MM) diet for 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in the amount of food intake between control and HFD + MM treatments. These results also suggest that MM does not induce a dislike for the diet due to its smell or taste. The study shows that MM significantly prevented increases in body weight, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and total lipids that resulted from the high-fat diet. MM also decreased the epididymal fat (E-fat) and retroperitoneal fat (R-fat) weights and phospholipid concentrations induced by the high-fat diet. On the basis of these findings, it was concluded that MM had anti-obesity effects by suppressing body weight gain and abdominal fat formation.KEY WORDS: Anti-obesity, High-fat diet, Melastoma malabathricum var Alba Linn