Antiobesity, Regulation of Lipid Metabolism, and Attenuation of Liver Oxidative Stress Effects of Hydroxy-α-sanshool Isolated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum on High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

Abstract

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to relieve pain, dispel dampness, stop diarrhea, and prevent itching. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) isolated from Z. bungeanum on hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar rats (n=48) were randomly divided into six groups: (1) normal diet rats (ND), (2) high-fat diet- (HFD-) treated rats, (3) HFD+fenofibrate-treated rats (HFD+FNB), (4) HFD+low dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+LD, 9 mg/kg), (5) HFD+middle dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+MD, 18 mg/kg), and (6) HFD+high dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+HD, 36 mg/kg). The body weight and food intake of the rats were recorded during the treatment period. After 4 weeks of HAS treatment, abdominal adipose tissues were observed and total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) of serum and liver tissues were determined. Furthermore, histochemical examinations using oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E) were carried out and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were determined. After HFD feeding, the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio of HFD rats were significantly enhanced (p<0.05vs. ND rats) and HAS treatment (18 and 36 mg/kg) significantly decreased the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (p<0.05vs. HFD rats). In addition, HAS treatment could decrease the abdominal adipose tissues and liver adipocytes. Furthermore, HAS treatment significantly decreased the T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C, whereas it increased HDL-C (p<0.05vs. HFD rats) in serum and the liver. HAS treatment increased the GSH level and SOD activity in the liver (p<0.05vs. HFD rats), whereas it decreased the levels of MDA (p<0.05vs. HFD rats). mRNA analyses suggested that HAS treatment increases the expression of Pparg (proliferator-activated receptor γ) and Apoe (peroxisome apolipoprotein E). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting indicated that HAS stimulation increased the levels of PPARγ and APOE in the liver, as a stress response of the body defense system. These results revealed that HAS exerts antiobesity and hypolipidemic activities in HFD rats by reducing liver oxidative stress and thus could be considered as a potential candidate drug to cure or prevent obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Development of Fortified Citrus Olive Oils: From Their Production to the Nutraceutical Properties on the Cardiovascular System

“…Moreover, the activity of the citrate synthase enzyme was measured, at the level of the visceral adipose tissue, as a marker of the metabolic activity of adipocytes ( Figure 5). As previously described in literature, the HFD significantly reduced the activity of citrate synthase [57], while the addition of EVOO brought it back to standard levels. The addition of CaOO and ClOO increased the average activity of this enzyme but less markedly than CEVOO ( Figure 5).…”

“…Further, as described in literature, the HFD significantly reduced the activity of citrate synthase enzyme [57], while the addition of CEVOO brought it back to standard levels. CaOO and ClOO, although less markedly, increased the average activity of this enzyme.…”

“…Accordingly with the literature, HFD represents a well-known experimental model to reproduce metabolic syndrome in rodents. In fact, beside the effects on body weight, this diet contributes to generate an increase in blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and a marked reduction in HDL levels [56] [57].…”

Ameliorative effects of the traditional Chinese medicine formula Qing-Mai-Yin on arteriosclerosis obliterans in a rabbit model

“…2004 ; Wang et al. 2019 ). In our results, it’s interesting that QMY treatment could decrease the levels of TC, TG and LDL in serum of ASO rabbit.…”

Zanthoxylum alkylamides improve amino acid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that ZA have a significant effect on the lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemia rats (Lv, 2014;Wang et al, 2019), nerve stimulation (Kuroki, Hagura, Nishida, Haggard, & Watanabe, 2016), the improvement of T1DM (Ren, 2017), the shortterm amelioration of skin conditions (Hao et al, 2019), cruor (Yang et al, 2014), narcosis (Tarus, Coombes, Crouch, & Mulholland, 2006), and so on. Additionally, like the stictic acid, ZA can also promote colonic peristalsis (Hiraishi et al, 2018;Kubota et al, 2019;Pejin, Iodice, Bogdanovic, Kojic, & Tesevic, 2017).…”