<i>Coleus forskohlii</i> Extract Attenuated the Beneficial Effect of Diet-Treatment on NASH in Mouse Model

Abstract

Obesity is one of the main causes of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with impaired liver functions including drug metabolism. Coleus forskohlii extract (CFE) is a popular ingredient of weight loss dietary supplements in Japan. In this study, we examined the effect of CFE on the treatment of NASH. C57BL/6 mice (male, 10-wk-old) were fed a NASH diet (high-fat, low-methionine, and choline-deficient diet) for 12 wk to establish NASH. Then, we examined the effect of 0.5% (w/w) CFE in diet during diet-treatment (change to control diet) and/or treadmill-exercise (45 min at 20 m/min, 5 d/ wk) to improve NASH for 3 wk. After experimental period, lipids profiles and liver functional markers in the blood, and hepatic lipid content and major CYP subtype mRNA expression and activity in liver were measured. Diet-treatment, but not exercise decreased liver weight and hepatic lipid contents in NASH induced mice. CFE attenuated the effects of diet-treatment which reduced liver weight, even though body weight and adipose tissue weight were reduced. Further, CFE significantly increased liver microsomal CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C, and CYP3A activities in each condition, and CYP inductions were greater in diet-treatment group compared to those in exercise group. These results suggest that taking CFE should be avoided during diet-treatment of NASH, especially in patients under medication.

A standardized extract of Coleus forskohlii root protects rats from ovariectomy-induced loss of bone mass and strength, and impaired bone material by osteogenic and anti-resorptive mechanisms

“…Our dose determination study in this model found a 25 mg/kg oral dose, which is half the adult human equivalent dose to be effective in bone regeneration. Osteogenic efficacy of CFE at lower dose is advantageous as it reduces the possibility of adverse hepatic effects reported in some preclinical studies (8,35,36). Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a chronic disease that requires lifelong therapeutic intervention or preventive measures.…”

“…cAMP binds to, and activates protein kinase A (PKA), which then activates lipases by phosphorylating them, resulting in lipolysis. Given this mechanism of action of forskolin, CF extract is thought to have an anti-obesity effect that has been demonstrated in a few preclinical studies (5)(6)(7)(8). Human studies, albeit scanty present inconsistent outcomes in reducing the weight of obese men and women (5,9,10) although it could attenuate weight gain (10).…”