Beneficial effect of dietary Ephedra sinica on obesity and glucose intolerance in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Abstract. Obesity is a major contributor to both glucose intolerance and metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic effects of Ephedra sinica on high-fat diet-fed mice. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups; the normal group, the obese and diabetic control group treated with a high-fat diet, the positive control group treated with a high-fat diet containing acarbose, and the experimental group treated with a high-fat diet containing Ephedra sinica. The effects of Ephedra sinica on obesity and glucose intolerance were measured by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), plasma biochemistry, body and epididymal fat weight; the expression of adiponectin, peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and leptin was also determined. Ephedra sinica reduced weight gain and epididymal fat accumulation, improved glucose intolerance on the OGTT, decreased triglycerides and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to the controls. Moreover, it reduced weight gain and fasting glucose levels and improved HDL-cholesterol levels more than acarbose. Gene expression analysis revealed that Ephedra sinica upregulated the expression of adiponectin and PPAR-α, and downregulated the expression of TNF-α. From these results, we suggest that Ephedra sinica may reduce obesity and hyperglycemia by increasing PPAR-α and adiponectin and reducing TNF-α, and that it may have the potential to be used clinically as an ingredient in food or drugs effective in obesity-related glucose intolerance treatments.

A Review of the Ephedra genus: Distribution, Ecology, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties

“…Oh et al showed that E. sinica Stapf normalizes hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in obese mice (C57BL/6J), that were fed a high-fat diet [ 120 ]. This study suggested that the anti-hyperglycemic effects could be mediated by the elevated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α), adiponectin and the suppression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression [ 121 ]. Additional studies of the alkaloids contained in E. sinica Stapf, mainly (−)-ephedrine ( 1 ), showed a hypoglycemic effect in a diabetes type II experimental model induced with streptozotocin.…”

“…Such is the case of some Ephedra species that have been used as weight loss supplements, where their effects have been reported to have thermogenic and stimulant properties that increase metabolism and body heat [ 6 , 8 ]. So far, these studies have centered in E. sinica Stapf from China, Korea and Morocco, showing through experimental models an induced reduction of weight gain, an epididymal fat accumulation, a visceral adipose tissue weigh and that the size of adipocytes improved plasma lipids levels, associated with an upregulated expression of PPAR-α, which controls fatty acid oxidation, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism [ 121 ]. In China and Korea, “Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18”, an herbal composition that includes E. sinica Stapf, Rheum palmatum L. and Laminaria japonica Aresch ; or “Gambisan”, that includes E. intermedia Schernk & C.A.Mey., Atractylodes lancea and Camellia sinensis (Syn.…”

High glucose enhances LPS-stimulated human PMVEC hyperpermeability via the NO pathway

“…The increased glucose concentration in diabetes mellitus is associated with enhanced LPS-stimulated transcriptional activator protein (AP)-1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, which are important in the transcriptional activation of genes involved in inflammation (4). In addition, the exposure of mononuclear cells to high glucose (HG) augments the LPS-stimulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) (5) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8 (6–8). HG and LPS levels also increase the generation of reactive oxygen species by peritoneal macrophages (9).…”

Ephedra sinica Stapf and Gypsum Attenuates Heat-Induced Hypothalamic Inflammation in Mice

“…This is an interesting observation, considering that EH is widely consumed in weight loss products in humans [23]. In mice, high fat diet (HFD) tends to result in gains in body weight, but a HFD consisting of 5% EH has been shown to result in a loss of body weight [24]. Additionally, intracerebroventricular administration of IL-1β increased rectal temperature in rabbits [25].…”