Pine needle extract suppresses adiposity via mediating adipogenic gene expressions of white adipose tissue in high fat diet-fed rats

Effect of pine needle extract (PNE) on adiposity was examined through morphologic examination and adipogenic gene expression of white adipose tissue (WAT) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Four type diets; normal diet (ND), HFD, and diets respectively supplemented with PNE in both ND and HFD, were fed for 8 weeks. The adipose fat mass and the sizes in WAT were significantly lower in PNE-supplemented HFD group than in HFD group. The serum levels of PNE-supplemented HFD group were similar to those of ND group. The supplementation of PNE to HFD markedly increased adiponectin mRNA, but decreased those of leptin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in WAT, respectively. PNE enhanced glucose uptake of epididymal WAT under insulin stimulation. The results suggest that the beneficial effect of PNE supplementation on adipose fat and serum profiles in HFD-fed rats is partly modulated by adipogenic genes, such as adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-α mRNA in WAT.