Korean J Nutr.  2007 Jun;40(4):303-311.

The Effects of the Sasa Borealis Leaves Extract on Plasma Adiponectin, Resistin, C-Reactive Protein and Homocysteine Levels in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57/BL6J Mice

• Kim EY
• Jung EY
• Lim HS
• Heo YR

Abstract

As obesity is known to be related to hyperlipidemia, diabetes and coronary heart disease, and other chronic diseases, many researches have focused on functional food materials showing anti-obesity activity. The adipokines secreted by adipose tissue, resistin and adiponectin are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases directly. C-reactive protein and homocysteine are molecules regulated by adipose tissue indirectly also relate to the chronic diseases. This study was performed to study of the anti-obesity effects of Sasa borealis in diet-induced obese mice (C57/BL6J). The mice were divided into four group: NFD (Normal fat diet), HFD (High fat diet), BSE (High fat diet containing 5% of 70% ethanol extract of Sasa borealis leaves), BLW (High fat diet containing 5% of water extract of Sasa borealis leaves). The experimental diets were fed for 11 weeks. The final body weight of the mice in the groups of BSE and BLW groups were significantly lower than the HFD group. The effects of weight reduction were due to reduced body fat accumulation. The adiponectin levels are significantly decreased in HFD group compared than NFD group and increased taken by Sasa borealis containing diet. The resistin levels are not significantly different between experimental groups. The CRP and homocyteine levels are significantly higher in HFD group than NFD group and significantly decreased by Sasa borealis containing diet, especially BLW group. These results indicate that orally administered Sasa borealis not only has the effect of reducing the body weight and total fat weight, but preferable effect in adiponectin levels and related molecules as CRP and homocysteine. Therefore we expect the Sasa borealis may have an anti-obesity function and anti-metabolic syndrome effect in diet-induced obese mice.

Keyword

Sasa borealis; obesity; adipokines; C-reactive protein; homocysteine

MeSH Terms

Adipokines
Adiponectin*
Adipose Tissue
Animals
Body Weight
C-Reactive Protein*
Chronic Disease
Coronary Disease
Diet
Ethanol
Functional Food
Homocysteine*
Hyperlipidemias
Mice*
Mice, Obese
Obesity
Plasma*
Resistin*
Sasa*
Water
Weight Loss
Adipokines
Adiponectin
C-Reactive Protein
Ethanol
Homocysteine
Resistin
Water