Liuwei Dihuang Aqueous Extract Reduces Weight Gain in Obese‐Prone Rats through Multi‐Mechanisms

Abstract

Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, has been demonstrated to reduce weight gain in obese rats; however, the active components and mechanisms are unknown. In the present study, water extract of LWDH was obtained and determined for its effect and mechanism of action on weight gain in male obese‐prone CD rats. The rats were divided into three groups and fed a high‐fat diet (60 kcal% from fat). Two treatment groups received 600 (WE600) or 1200 (WE1200) mg/kg/d LWDH water extract dissolved in water once a day via gavage feeding for 10 wk. The control rats were gavaged with the control vehicle. It was found that WE1200 lowered body weights after 3 weeks of treatment and the effect was retained throughout the remaining study period. WE1200 also lowered visceral fat mass, serum free fatty acids, serum leptin, as well as blood cholesterol and triacylglycerides. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and fat oxidation were increased in both light and dark periods, while carbon dioxide oxidation increased in the light period in the WE1200 group. Energy expenditure was increased in the WE1200 group in both light and dark periods. Moreover, rats in the WE1200 group had lower levels of serum free fatty acids and leptin levels. Rats in the WE600 had lower serum free fatty acids and leptin levels without showing significant effects on other parameters compared to controls. These results demonstrated that consumption of LWDH water extract suppressed weight gain, visceral fat mass and improved several phenotypes of metabolic syndrome in obese rats through increasing energy expenditure, decreasing energy intake and improving leptin sensitivity. ‐‐‐‐Research was supported by CIHR grant CCI‐92219.