Anti-Obesity Effects of Morus alba L. and Aronia melanocarpa in a High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6J Mouse Model

Anti-atherosclerotic effects of natural compounds targeting lipid metabolism and inflammation: Focus on PPARs, LXRs, and PCSK9

A large body of evidence has shown that modulation of the nuclear receptors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), the liver X receptors (LXRs), the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and inflammatory processes by natural compounds has hypolipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects. These beneficial outcomes are certainly related to the crucial function of these targets in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis and regulating systemic inflammation. Currently, the therapeutic scenario for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) offers a plethora of widely validated and functional pharmacological treatments to improve the health status of patients. However, patients are increasingly sceptical of pharmacological treatments which are often associated with moderate to severe side effects. The aim of our review is to provide a collection of the most recent scientific evidence on the most common phytochemicals, used for centuries in the Mediterranean diet and traditional chinese medicine that act on these key regulators of cholesterol homeostasis and systemic inflammation, which could constitute important tools for CVD management.

Edible Berries- An Update on Nutritional Composition and Health Benefits- Part III

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The diverse polyphenolic components present in these berries are responsible for their functional properties in human health. Hence, there is an increasing demand for research in berry bioactive components to understand the mechanism of action in alleviating and preventing diseases. Therefore, in this last part-III of the review series, mulberry, raspberry, salmonberry, Saskatoonberry, and strawberry are discussed in terms of their bioactive components and corresponding substantial health benefits.

RECENT FINDINGS

The aforementioned berries provide essential and nonessential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and various phenolic compounds. Similar to the other reported berries, these berries possess good antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective effects. The bioactive components present in the berries are crucial for the overall well-being of humans and hence consumption of berries mentioned in part-III as well as part-I and part-II possesses substantial health benefits, particularly cognitive and cardio health.

Effects of Ginseng Consumption on Cardiovascular Health Biomarkers in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Ginseng, with various pharmacological activities, has received increasing attention to improve cardiovascular health (CVH). Therefore, this meta-analysis synthesized the effect of ginseng consumption on biomarkers of CVH in adults. A systematic search was performed in the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through July 24, 2023 to screen out English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of ginseng consumption on body composition, blood pressure, vascular stiffness, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines, and adipocytokines in adults. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the overall effect size, and STATA 12.0 was used for comprehensive analysis. Forty-five studies were included in the meta-analysis. Ginseng consumption significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD = -2.57 mmHg, 95% CI = -4.99 to -0.14, p = 0.038), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = -4.40 mg/dL, 95% CI = -8.67 to -0.132, p = 0.043), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = -2.81 mg/dL, 95% CI = -4.89 to -0.72, p = 0.008), C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = -0.41 mg/L, 95% CI = -0.73 to -0.10, p = 0.010), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (WMD = -2.82 pg./mL, 95% CI = -4.31 to -1.32, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses suggested that supplementation with ginseng for less than 12 weeks significantly reduced SBP, but 12 weeks or more improved TC and CRP. Ginseng consumption on SBP, TC, and CRP seemed to be more effective on unhealthy participants. The meta-analysis showed that ginseng consumption might have the potential to improve SBP, TC, LDL-C, CRP, and IL-6. These findings suggest that ginseng is a potential candidate for the maintenance of CVH. However, our results had high heterogeneity. Future high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of ginseng consumption.

Morus alba: natural and valuable effects in weight loss management

Overweight and obesity are conditions associated with serious comorbidities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Prevalence of excessive fat accumulation is increasing worldwide, and thus the need for efficient and sustainable weight loss regimes has become a major issue in clinical practice. Despite the important advances in the development of anti-obesity medications (AOM), their side effects, cost, and accessibility, are limiting factors for their routine use. Conversely, the studies of medicinal plants for weight management holds strong promise as a growing area of research. This review consolidates the representative evidence about the beneficial impacts of Morus alba on weight management and associated metabolic parameters, encompassing: inhibition of digestive enzymes, and thus contribution to the energy deficit required for weight loss, improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism, and attenuation of adiposity. Findings from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations reviewed in the paper, demonstrate that white mulberry extracts have the potency to supplement efficiently and safely a healthy weight management approach.

Low-methoxy-pectin and chlorogenic acid synergistically promote lipolysis and β-oxidation by regulating AMPK signaling pathway in obese mice

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) displays various biological activities in preventing high-calorie diet-induced metabolic complications. The absorption efficiency of CGA in the stomach and small intestine is relatively low, with approximately 70 % of CGA being metabolized by colonic microorganisms before it enters the bloodstream. In this study, we successfully developed CGA-LMP (Low-methoxy-pectin) conjugates to improve the absorption rate of CGA. C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat diets (HFD) supplemented with CGA, LMP, or CGA-LMP conjugates for a duration of eight weeks. The results demonstrated that the CGA, LMP, or CGA-LMP conjugates prevented HFD-induced hyperlipidemia, inflammation, liver steatosis, and adipocyte hypertrophy in obese mice. Notably, the CGA-LMP conjugates demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating obesity compared to CGA or LMP alone. Further studies revealed that the primary mechanism of weight loss was the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway, which facilitates lipolysis and lipid β-oxidation. These findings highlight that the enhanced the anti-obesity effectiveness of CGA-LMP conjugates, expanding their potential applications in the field of functional nutrition and foods.

Rice Protein Reduces Triglyceride Levels through Modulating CD36, MTP, FATP, and FABP Expression in Growing and Adult Rats

To elucidate the effect of rice protein on the regulation of triglyceride transport to reduce triglyceride levels, growing and adult male Wistar rats were fed with casein and rice protein for 2 weeks. With the intake of rice protein, the gene and protein expressions of cluster determinant 36 (CD36), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), fatty acid transport protein-2 (FATP-2), and fatty acid-binding protein-1 (FABP-1) were, respectively, downregulated in growing and adult rats, suggesting rice protein could effectively regulate triglyceride transport. As a result, rice protein significantly reduced plasma levels of triglyceride and fatty acids, while hepatic accumulations of triglyceride and fatty acids were also decreased via rice protein. The present study demonstrates that RP exerts regulatory effects on CD36, MTP, FATP-2, and FABP-1 expression in growing and adult rats, revealing a link to triglyceride-lowering actions and the modulations of triglyceride transport exerted by rice protein. Results suggest that the aging process cannot attenuate the depression of CD36, MTP, FATP, and FABP 19 expression to reduce triglyceride levels induced by rice protein.

Consumption of Chokeberry Bio-Products Improves Specific Metabolic Parameters and Increases the Plasma Antioxidant Status

Because of its high antioxidant activity, chokeberry can be used both in the prevention and treatment of various metabolic disorders. In this study, for the first time, the synergistic effects of chokeberry juice and chokeberry fiber on selected metabolic and anthropometric parameters were assessed during a 90-day intervention including 102 people (67 women and 35 men). After 60 days of intervention with chokeberry juice, statistically significant increases in the muscle mass and antioxidant potential of the serum were observed. In turn, there were decreases in the waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, LDL cholesterol, eGFR, and ALT level. The addition of chokeberry fiber for the next 30 days resulted in stabilizations of the diastolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, and waist circumference, as well as reductions in the values of the heart rate, LDL cholesterol, insulin, and AST level. After 90 days, a significant increase in the FRAP value was also observed. This intervention indicates that chokeberry products may have a beneficial effect on metabolic health and serve as a foundation for developing functional foods.

Phytochemicals and their Potential Mechanisms against Insulin Resistance

Insulin's inception dates back to 1921 and was unveiled through a momentous revelation. Diabetes is a dangerous, long-term disease in which the body fails to generate enough insulin or utilize the insulin it creates adequately. This causes hyperglycemia, a state of high blood sugar levels, which can even put a person into a coma if not managed. Activation of the insulin receptor corresponds to two crucial metabolic functions, i.e., uptake of glucose and storage of glycogen. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exists as one of the most challenging medical conditions in the 21st century. The sedentary lifestyle and declining quality of food products have contributed to the rapid development of metabolic disorders. Hence, there is an urgent need to lay some reliable, significant molecules and modalities of treatment to combat and manage this epidemic. In this review, we have made an attempt to identify and enlist the major phytoconstituents along with the associated sources and existing mechanisms against insulin resistance. The conducted study may offer potential sustainable solutions for developing and formulating scientifically validated molecules and phytoconstituents as formulations for the management of this metabolic disorder.

Anti-Obesity Effects of the Larval Powder of Steamed and Lyophilized Mature Silkworms in a Newly Designed Adult Mouse Model

Recently, "mature" silkworms (MS) of Bombix mori have been considered a potential nutraceutical, with a number of health benefits reported for steamed and lyophilized MS powder (SMSP). However, no obesity-related effects have been reported for SMSP. In the present study, anti-obesity effects of SMSP were investigated in adult mice in vivo, aged 12 weeks at the onset of SMSP treatment, fed a normal diet (ND) and a high-fat diet (HFD), respectively, for 12 weeks. SMSP significantly suppressed body weight gain, intra-abdominal adipose tissue, and food efficiency in both ND-fed and HFD-fed adult mice. In addition, SMSP significantly decreased food intake and liver weight in HFD-fed mice, indicating that SMSP suppressed appetite and simultaneously reduced the conversion of feed into body weight in HFD-fed mice. SMSP also significantly lowered the serum levels of glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, asparagine transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase. However, SMSP had no significant effect on the weights of the kidney, spleen, or thymus or the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Taken together, the above results suggest that SMSP has potent anti-obesity effects and is safe for long-term use as a potential therapeutic and/or nutraceutical in both obese patients and non-obese individuals.

Reduction of obesity and hepatic adiposity in high-fat diet-induced rats by besunyen slimming tea

Objective

Obesity is a significant risk factor for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disorders. As a well-known Chinese tea product, Besunyen Slimming Tea (BST) is believed to effectively reduce body weight (BW) and lipid profile. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms and effects of BST on treating obesity and hepatic steatosis using a rat model fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to random separation into three categories: Animals were fed (1) a normal diet food (ND); (2) HFD, and (3) HFD + BST (n = 12/category). After successfully establishing the obesity model at week 8, the HFD + BST received BST (0.6 g/0.6 kg) orally, and the ND and HFD received the same amount (2 ml) of distilled water orally.

Results

HFD + BST reduced waist circumference (7.84%, P = 0.015), food intake (14.66%, P = 0.011), final BW (12.73%, P = 0.010), BW gain (964.16%, P < 0.001), and body mass index (8.97%, P = 0.044) compared with the HFD. BST supplementation also decreased hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and insulin resistance in rats with HFD. Furthermore, BST suppressed hepatic lipidosis by decreasing de novo lipogenesis and increasing fatty acid oxidation.

Conclusions

The results of this study offer evidence supporting the potential health benefits of BST in the management of metabolic disorders and obesity.

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Dyslipidemic Effects of Salicornia arabica Decocted Extract in Tunisian Psammomys obesus Fed a High-Calorie Diet

Salicornia is a halophyte plant that has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of scurvy, goiter, and hypertension. It is commercialized in Europe and Asia as fresh salads, pickled vegetables, green salt, or tea powder. This work is the first to assess the potential anti-obesity and anti-dyslipidemic effects of Salicornia arabica decocted extract (SADE). SADE was characterized by its significant in vitro radical scavenging activity (using DPPH and ABTS assays). The effect of SADE on food intake, weight loss, serum biochemical parameters, liver and kidney weights, adiposity index and on liver histology was investigated in the Tunisian gerbil Psammomys obesus (P. obesus), which is recognized as a relevant animal model of human obesity and diabetes. P. obesus animals were firstly randomly divided into two groups: the first received a natural low-calorie chow diet (LCD), and the second group received a high-calorie diet (HCD) over 12 weeks. On day 90, animals were divided into four groups receiving or not receiving SADE (LCD, LCD + SADE, HCD, and HCD + SADE). If compared to the HCD group, SADE oral administration (300 mg/kg per day during 4 weeks) in HCD + SADE group showed on day 120 a significant decrease in body weight (−34%), blood glucose (−47.85%), serum levels of total cholesterol (−54.92%), LDL cholesterol (−60%), triglycerides (−48.03%), and of the levels of hepatic enzymes: ASAT (−66.28%) and ALAT (−31.87%). Oral administration of SADE restored the relative liver weight and adiposity index and significantly limited HCD-induced hepatic injury in P. obesus. SADE seems to have promising in vivo anti-obesity and anti-dyslipidemic effects.

Anti-Obesity Effect of Rice Bran Extract on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity involving adipose tissue growth and development are associated with angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. Rice bran has antioxidant and cardioprotective properties, and can act as a food supplement with potential health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that rice bran extract (RBE) can regulate adipose tissue growth and obesity. Male Institute of Cancer Research mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks and then supplemented with 220 and 1,100 mg/kg/d RBE while the low-fat diet group (control) were not. In addition to body weight, adipose tissue mass, and vessel density, we evaluated the mRNA expression of angiogenic factors such as matrix metalloproteinases, Mmp-2, Mmp-9, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf) in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Administration of RBE to HFD-induced obese mice reduced the body weight and adipose tissue mass compared with untreated mice. It also decreased blood vessel density in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, RBE downregulated Vegf and Mmp-2 mRNA levels in visceral fat tissue. These results demonstrate that RBE, at high concentrations, significantly reduces adipose tissue mass and prevents obesity development in HFD-induced obese mice, which might be partly mediated via an anti-angiogenic mechanism.

Chokeberry (A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott)—A Natural Product for Metabolic Disorders?

Abnormal metabolism of substances in the body can result in metabolic disorders which include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, or cancer. Foods rich in antioxidants can help to prevent and treat various types of disorders. Chokeberry fruits are rich in polyphenols, especially cyanidins, and therefore, can show a beneficial health effect. The aim of this study was to summarize and systematize reports about the effects of chokeberry on various metabolic parameters. Studies from 2000 to 2021, published in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, were reviewed. The review of studies shows that chokeberry may have a positive effect in dyslipidemia and hypertension and may increase the body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms. The anti-inflammatory effect, in turn, may translate into a reduction in the risk of metabolic disorders over a longer period of use. Changes in glucose levels were reported by studies in which the intervention lasted more than 10 weeks in patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders. The effects of protecting the liver, inhibiting platelet aggregation, lowering uric acid levels, and having a protective effect on the kidneys require additional confirmation in human clinical trials. Consumption of chokeberry fruit did not impact on anthropometric measurements; however, it seems that chokeberry fruit can be recommended in many metabolic disorders due to the richness of bioactive ingredients.

Anti-obesity effect of fermented lemon peel on high-fat diet-induced obese mice by modulating the inflammatory response

Inflammation is a characteristic of obesity. The rich compounds in lemon peel have anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined whether fermented lemon peel can have an anti-obesity effect on obese mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) by regulating inflammation. The lemon peel fermentation supernatant (LPFS) could inhibit the weight gain of mice and improve the lesions of the liver and epididymal adipose tissue. In addition, LPFS regulates blood lipids, liver function, and inflammation-related indicators in the serum of obese mice. LPFS plays a positive role in regulating the inflammation and obesity-related genes in liver tissue and adipose tissue of obese mice. High-performance liquid chromatography showed an increase in the contents of compounds with antioxidant or/and anti-inflammatory effects and compounds with anti-obesity effects. These results suggest that the LPFS could help reduce obesity in obese mice induced by an HFD by adjusting the balance of the inflammatory response. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity often increases the risk of chronic diseases, and mild inflammation is a feature of obesity. Therefore, timely suppression of inflammation in the body can help control the occurrence of obesity. This study clarified the anti-obesity effect of fermented lemon peel on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by regulating the body's inflammatory response and confirmed that fermentation improves the anti-inflammatory activity of lemon peel. This study provides important references for future investigation, prophylaxis, and treatment of inflammation and obesity-related diseases, as well as the advances in functional foods and fermented foods with anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity activities.