Dipterocarpus tuberculatus as a promising anti-obesity treatment in Lep knockout mice

Abstract

IntroductionThe therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Dipterocarpus tuberculatus (D. tuberculatus) extracts have been examined concerning inflammation, photoaging, and gastritis; however, their effect on obesity is still being investigated.MethodsWe administered a methanol extract of D. tuberculatus (MED) orally to Lep knockout (KO) mice for 4 weeks to investigate the therapeutic effects on obesity, weight gain, fat accumulation, lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and β-oxidation.ResultsIn Lep KO mice, MED significantly reduced weight gains, food intake, and total cholesterol and glyceride levels. Similar reductions in fat weights and adipocyte sizes were also observed. Furthermore, MED treatment reduced liver weight, lipid droplet numbers, the expressions of adipogenesis and lipogenesis-related genes, and the expressions of lipolysis regulators in liver tissues. Moreover, the iNOS-mediated COX-2 induction pathway, the inflammasome pathway, and inflammatory cytokine levels were reduced, but β-oxidation was increased, in the livers of MED-treated Lep KO mice.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that MED ameliorates obesity and has considerable potential as an anti-obesity treatment.

Impact of the Oral Administration of Polystyrene Microplastics on Hepatic Lipid, Glucose, and Amino Acid Metabolism in C57BL/6Korl and C57BL/6-Lepem1hwl/Korl Mice

“…Lep KO mice were produced and identified as described in earlier studies [54,55]. Seven-week-old leptin heterogynous (HT) mice of the C57BL/6J strain were supplied by the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (Laboratory Animals Resources Bank) at the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS, Chungju, Republic of Korea).…”