The Korean Mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) Extract Has an Antiobesity Effect and Protects against Hepatic Steatosis in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

Abstract

This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) on adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells and obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were treated with KME (3 g/kg/day) for 15 weeks for the antiobesity and NAFLD experiments. Body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. The epididymal pad was measured and liver histology was observed. The effects of KME on thermogenesis and endurance capacity were measured. The effects of KME on adipogenic factors were examined in 3T3-L1 cells. Body and epididymal fat pad weights were reduced in KME-treated mice, and histological examination showed an amelioration of fatty liver in KME-treated mice, without an effect on food consumption. KME potently induces mitochondrial activity by activating thermogenesis and improving endurance capacity. KME also inhibited adipogenic factors in vitro. These results demonstrate the inhibitory effects of KME on obesity and NAFLD in mice fed a high-fat diet. The effects appear to be mediated through an enhanced mitochondrial activity. Therefore, KME may be an effective therapeutic candidate for treating obesity and fatty liver caused by a high-fat diet.

Viscothionin Isolated from Korean Mistletoe Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via the Activation of Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase

“…[13][14][15][16] Likewise, several recent studies have demonstrated that Korean mistletoe has potential anti-cancer 16 and anti-obesity effects. 17 Based on these findings, we purified potential candidate molecules from Korean mistletoe, and confirmed that viscothionin is the active component involved in lipid metabolism.…”

Amodiaquine improves insulin resistance and lipid metabolism in diabetic model mice

“…Specific primer pairs (Macrogen, Seoul, Korea) are as follows: ACO forward 5′‐ACA CTA ACA TAT CAA CAA GAG GAG‐3′, ACO reverse 5′‐CAT TGC CAG GAA GAC CAG‐3′, CPT1 forward 5′‐CCA CCT CTT CTG CCT CTA T‐3′, CPT1 reverse 5′‐TTC TCA AAG TCA AAC AGT TCC A‐3′, mCAD forward 5′‐CCG AAG AGT TGG CGT ATG‐3′, mCAD reverse 5′‐AGC AAG AAT CAC AGG CAT T‐3′, AdipoQ forward 5′‐TGA GTA CCA GAC TAA TGA GAC C‐3′, AdipoQ reverse 5′‐ GGC AGG ATT AAG AGG AAC AG‐3′, LPL forward 5′‐AAT AAG AAG GTC AAT AGA ATT ACT GG‐3′, LPL reverse 5′‐AAT CAG CGT CAT CAG GAG‐3′, CD36 forward 5′‐AGC CTC CTT TCC ACC TTT‐3′, CD36 reverse 5′‐TCC GAA CAC AGC GTA GAT‐3′, TNF‐α forward 5′‐ATG AGA AGT TCC CAA ATG GC‐3′, TNF‐α reverse 5′‐TTT GAG AAG ATG ATC TGA GTG TGA G‐3′, MCP‐1 forward 5′‐AAT GAG TAG GCT GGA GAG‐3′, MCP‐1 reverse 5′‐TCT CTT GAG CTT GGT GAC‐3′, G6PD forward 5′‐TGA AGG AAG TGG TCA AGG A‐3′, G6PD reverse 5′‐TCT GGT GAG GAG GAA TGT C‐3′, iNOS forward 5′‐GCT TCT GGC ACT GAG TAA‐3′, iNOS reverse 5′‐GGA GGA GAG GAG AGA GAT‐3′, G6Pase forward 5′‐ACC TCGT CTT CAA GTG GAT‐3′, G6Pase reverse 5′‐TGA CAG GGA ACT GCT TTA TTA TAG‐3′, PEPCK forward 5′‐CAG TTG AGT AGC ACA GAG AA‐3′, PEPCK reverse 5′‐GAT TCC TGA GTG ACC TTG AA‐3′, β‐actin forward 5′‐GCG AGA AGA TGA CCC AGA T‐3′ and β‐actin reverse 5′‐ATC ACG ATG CCA GTG GTA‐3′; β‐actin was used as an internal control. Amplification of real‐time PCR was performed according to the protocols of Jung et al, with minor modification. Briefly, the reaction was carried out at 95°C for 3 minutes and followed by 39 cycles of amplification (95°C for 10 seconds, 58°C for 10 seconds, 72°C for 30 seconds).…”

“…Insulin levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Morinaga Institute of Biological Science, Inc., Yokohama, Japan). 27 with minor modification. Briefly, the reaction was carried out at 95 C for 3 minutes and followed by 39 cycles of amplification (95 C for 10 seconds, 58 C for 10 seconds, 72 C for 30 seconds).…”

Asian Elm tree inner bark prevents articular cartilage deterioration in ovariectomized obese rats with monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis

“…As an index compound, the contents of viscothionin in the KME were measured by a slightly modified previously described method using 20% sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel separation after fractionation on a Sephadex G-50 column (EMD Millipore Corporation, Billerica, MA). 12,16 Ovariectomy or sham operation Female Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 231 AE 20 g) were housed individually in stainless steel cages in a controlled environment (238C and with a 12-hour light/dark cycle). This research followed the guidelines of NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the International Association for the Study of Pain and was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Hoseo University, Korea (2013-05).…”

“…The functional compounds of Korean mistletoe include betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, and viscothionin, all of which have demonstrated efficacy for improving exercise capacity, increasing lean body mass, and for anti-inflammatory activity in animal studies in addition to the alleviation of hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis. 11,12 The inner bark of Asian Elm has not been studied for alleviating postmenopausal symptoms and no studies have investigated the effects of Korean mistletoe or Asian Elm bark on osteoarthritis, even though its development and progression are associated with impaired inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Therefore, both Korean mistletoe and Ulmi cortex have properties that might be useful for ameliorating the symptoms and bone degeneration associated with menopause, but have not been studied for those purposes.…”