Herbal extract THI improves metabolic abnormality in mice fed a high-fat diet

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

Dangyuja (Citrus grandis Osbeck) Peel Improves Lipid Profiles and Alleviates Hypertension in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet / 한국실험동물학회지

Obesity is a major public health problem and significant risk factor for many serious diseases including coronary artery disease, cancer, and diabetes. This study was performed to investigate the hypolipidemic effects and anti-hypertensive effect of Dangyuja (Citrus grandis Osbeck) peel, which is bred on Jeju island, in rats fed a high-fat diet. This study was conducted on 4 equal rat groups which were fed as follows; normal diet group (ND), high fat diet group (HFD), high fat diet supplemented with powdered peel of Dangyuja (1%, wt/wt) group (HFD+Dangyuja), and high fat diet treated with sibutramine simultaneously at a dose of 10 mg/kg group (HFD+Sibutramine). After feeding the high fat diet, body weight gain and relative weight of adipose tissues and liver significantly increased in HFD group, but Dangyuja peel supplementation protected these HFD-induced changes. The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and the atherogenic index significantly decreased in the HFD+Dangyuja peel group compared with the HFD group. The systolic blood pressure was significantly increased by feeding the high fat diet, whereas the supplementation of Dangyuja peel effectively prevented the elevation of blood pressure. Therefore, these results suggest that Dangyuja exerts a beneficial effect on obesity by improving lipid metabolism and alleviating obesity-related hypertension.