Extracts from the Leaves of Cissus verticillata Ameliorate High-Fat Diet-Induced Memory Deficits in Mice

Abstract

We investigated the effects of Cissus verticillata leaf extract (CVE) on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and memory deficits. Male mice (5 weeks of age) were fed vehicle (distilled water), or 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg of CVE once a day for 8 weeks with an HFD. Treatment with CVE resulted in lower body weight and glucose levels in a concentration- and feeding time-dependent manner. LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the CVE-treated HFD group than in the vehicle-treated HFD group. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not show any significant changes. Lipid droplets and ballooning were reduced depending on the concentration of CVE treatment compared to the HFD group. Treatment with CVE ameliorated the increase in glucagon and immunoreactivities in the pancreas, and novel object recognition memory was improved by 300 mg/kg CVE treatment compared to the HFD group. More proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were higher in mice treated with CVE than in vehicle-treated HFD-fed mice. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in the HFD group, which was facilitated by treatment with 300 mg/kg CVE in hippocampal homogenates. These results suggest that CVE ameliorates HFD-induced obesity and memory deficits in mice, associated with increased BDNF levels in the hippocampus.

Adiposity Reduction by Cucumis melo var. gaettongchamoe Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

“…Thus, the development of novel anti-obesity agents with fat-burning and fat-accumulation-inhibitory activities is of great interest. Previous studies have explored various fat-burning agents, including norepinephrine, theophylline, forskolin, isoproterenol, dibutyryl-cAMP (DBcAMP), and theophylline, which have shown potential in promoting fat breakdown in adipocytes [3,25,26]. Currently, anti-obesity drugs primarily consist of centrally acting analgesics and pancreatic lipase inhibitors like orlistat and lorcaserin.…”

“…It is characterized by an increase in both the number (hyperplasia) and size (hypertrophy) of fat cells, leading to an increase in adipose tissue mass. Obesity is linked to a range of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, gallbladder disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, gout, osteoarthritis, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and mental disorders [1][2][3]. Adipose tissue serves as a biological calorie reservoir, expanding in response to excess nutrients and releasing lipids during energy deficiency.…”