The supplementation of Korean mistletoe water extracts reduces hot flushes, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and muscle loss in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

Since Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) has been used for alleviating metabolic diseases, it may also prevent the impairment of energy, glucose, lipid, and bone metabolisms in an estrogen-deficient animal model. We determined that long-term consumption of Korean mistletoe water extract (KME) can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flush, increased abdominal fat mass, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and decreased bone mineral density in ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed a high-fat diet, and explored the mechanisms of the effects. OVX rats were divided into four groups and fed high-fat diets supplemented with either 0.6% dextrin (control), 0.2% lyophilized KME + 0.4% dextrin (KME-L), or 0.6% lyophilized KME (KME-H). Sham rats were fed with the high-fat diets with 0.6% dextrin as a normal-control without estrogen deficiency. After eight weeks, OVX rats exhibited impaired energy, glucose and lipid metabolism, and decreased uterine and bone masses. KME-L did not alleviate energy dysfunction. However, KME-H lowered serum levels of total-, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and elevated serum HDL-cholesterol levels in OVX rats with dyslipidemia, to similar levels as normal-control rats. Furthermore, KME-H improved HOMA-IR, an indicator of insulin resistance, in OVX rats. Surprisingly, KME-H fed rats had greater lean mass in the abdomen and leg without differences in fat mass but neither dosage of KME altered bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femur. The increased lean mass was related to greater phosphorylation of mTOR and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in the quadriceps muscles. Hepatic triglyceride contents were lowered with KME-H in OVX rats by increasing carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) expression and decreasing fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression. In conclusion, KME may be useful for preventing some menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and loss of muscle mass in post-menopausal women.

Efficacy of Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract in Reducing Metabolic and Inflammatory Alterations Associated With Menopause

“…The present study showed that both HE and EE of T. foenumgraecum seed are able to improve metabolic status and decrease level of these cytokines in ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomy is a standard experimental model of menopause in rodent to investigate pharmacological management of postmenopausal symptoms (11,12,24,25). In our study, in agreement with previous reports, ovariectomy led to increased body weight gain (25,26).…”

“…Therefore, development of new agents with anti-inflammatory action and lesser side effects for management of menopause remains an attractive subject. It has been reported that a number of medicinal plants may be useful for preventing or treating some menopausal related complications such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, weight gain, inflammation, and loss of bone mass (11)(12)(13).…”

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

“…19,31 HT reverses most symptoms, but also induces some adverse effects. Estrogen deficiency is also recognized to induce degenerative changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone, and estrogen replacement delays the changes by acting on estrogen receptors in the articular cartilages, synovial membrane, and ligaments in animal studies.…”

“…The dosages of lyophilized water KME and UCE were determined by our preliminary and previous studies 19 : each test diet contained 0.6% KME or 2% UCE in a high-fat diet. In our preliminary study, low dosages (0.5-2 mg/mL) treatment of KME lowered tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) expression in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells (mouse leukemic monocyte/macrophage cell line).…”

The Mexican mistletoe Struthanthus venetus (HBK Blume) inhibits proliferation and synergizes antagonistic actions of Tamoxifen and Fulvestrant in breast cancer MCF-7 cells

“…Recent studies have reported that long-term oral consumption of water extract from the Korean mistletoe Viscum album in ovariectomized rats (an oestrogendeficient model of post-menopausal stage) alleviates menopausal symptoms and modulates glucose and lipid metabolism (Kim et al, 2015). The anti-osteoporosis effects of aqueous-methanol extracts of the Eastern Nigerian mistletoe Lorantus micrantus have also been described (Omeje et al, 2014).…”