Anti‐obesity effect of Liupao tea extract by modulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in high‐fat‐diet‐induced obese mice

Liupao tea (LPT) is traditional dark Chinese tea. The effect of LPT extract on high‐fat‐diet‐induced obese mice was investigated systematically. The results showed that LPT extract could reduce body weight and significantly alleviate liver damage and fat accumulation. LPT could also decrease the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and increase the level of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in the liver. It also decreased the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interferon gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6 and increased the serum levels of anti‐inflammatory cytokines, including IL‐10 and IL‐4. Moreover, LPT improved the levels of total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and catalase (CAT) and reduced the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver. Moreover, LPT could upregulate the mRNA and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPAR‐α), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1(CPT1), and cholesterol 7 alpha‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and downregulate those of PPAR‐γ and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein alpha (C/EBP‐α) in the liver. It also increased the mRNA expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), CAT, gamma‐glutamylcysteine synthetase 1 (GSH1), and GSH‐Px. The components of LPT extract include catechin, rutin, taxifolin, and astragalin, which possibly have a wide range of biological activities. In conclusion, our work verified that LPT extract possessed an anti‐obesity effect and alleviated obesity‐related symptoms, including lipid metabolism disorder, chronic low‐grade inflammation, and liver damage, by modulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.     

Effects of Myricetin‐Containing Ethanol Solution on High‐Fat Diet Induced Obese Rats

Myricetin is a natural flavonol widely occurring in wines. Many beneficial effects of myricetin in alcoholic beverages have been reported before, but never including anti‐obesity. In the present study, we fed obese male Sprague–Dawley rats with ethanol solutions containing various concentrations of myricetin and found that myricetin may maintain the food intake while reduce the weight‐gain, feed efficiency, level of blood lipids, adipocyte size, and weight and size of the perirenal and epididymal adipose tissues (P < 0.01). Our experiment data also show that the anti‐obesity effect may be associated with the upregulation of adropin and β‐endorphin levels. Based on the above‐described findings, we propose the potential for myricetin‐containing alcoholic beverages to be developed into anti‐obesity health food.     

Comparison of the anti‐obesity and hypocholesterolaemic effects of single Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and probiotic cocktail

This study compared the efficacy of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LAB13) and a probiotic cocktail for their anti‐obesity and other lipid profile modulating effects. Diet‐induced obese rats were supplemented with two different probiotics which are LAB13 (1 × 10⁹ CFU day^?1 per rat) and cocktail of five bacterial strains (1 × 10⁹ CFU day^?1 per rat) for 12 weeks. Comparative data on weight gain, energy intake, liver weight, subcutaneous fat, total fat weights, total cholesterol and leptin levels in both treatment groups showed significant reduction in probiotic‐treated groups compared to the obese control group. Both probiotics have the anti‐obesity and hypocholesterolaemic effects and are able to reduce body weight and fats via reduction in energy intake. Only LAB13 was able to reduce the level of triglyceride significantly. Therefore, the LAB13 is equally effective compared to the probiotic cocktail in weight reduction. LAB13 is more effective in improving lipid profile which is a common medical complication of obesity.     

Immuno‐Resolving Ability of Resolvins,Protectins, and Maresins Derived from Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in Metabolic Syndrome

Omega‐3 fatty acid consumption has been suggested to be beneficial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its effects have been attributed to anti‐inflammatory activity, with the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism playing a central role. However, a more recent view is that omega‐3 fatty acids play an active role as the precursors of potent, specialized pro‐resolving mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)‐ and eicosapentaenoic‐acid‐derived SPMs are identified in the adipose tissue but the levels of certain SPMs (e.g., protectin D1) are markedly reduced with obesity, suggesting adipose SPM deficiency, potentially resulting in unresolved inflammation. Supplementation of the biosynthetic intermediates of SPM (e.g., 17‐hydroxy‐DHA) or omega‐3 fatty acids increases the level of adipose SPMs, reduces adipose inflammation (decrease in macrophage accumulation and change to less inflammatory macrophages), and enhances insulin sensitivity. The findings from studies using rodent obesity models must be translated to humans. It will be important to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which obesity reduces the levels of and the sensitivity to SPM in adipose tissues. This will enable the development of nutrition therapy to enhance the effects of omega‐3 fatty acids in the prevention and/or treatment of T2DM.     

In vivo effect of oat cereal β‐glucan on metabolic indexes and satiety‐related hormones in diet‐induced obesity C57‐Bl mice

This study explored the dose‐dependent effect of oat cereal β‐glucan on improving metabolic indexes of obesity mice. C57‐Bl mice were randomized to chow diet (N) group and high fat diet group and other three doses of oat β‐glucan groups (low β‐glucan, medium β‐glucan, and high β‐glucan). Energy intake, glucose, lipids, and appetite related hormones were tested. Dose‐dependent relation was observed on oat β‐glucan doses and body weight change, average energy intake, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, plasma neural peptide Y, arcuate neural peptide Y mRNA, and arcuate neural peptide Y receptor 2 mRNA level. Oat β‐glucan helped to increase plasma peptide Y‐Y and intestine peptide Y‐Y expression in obesity mice.