Plant-derived β-ecdysone (Ecd) has beneficial effects on the metabolic syndrome and on anaemia in ovariectomized rats

Ovariectomized (ovx) rats develop obesity and hypercholesterinaemia and are a good model for the study of the metabolic syndrome. We showed recently that the molting hormone Ecd increased bone and muscle mass in ovx rats despite unchanged body weight suggesting decreased total fat mass. Therefore we investigated the effects of Ecd (50mg/day) on obesity, serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL and on triglycerides and an oral glucose tolerance test (1g glucose/kg BW) was performed in ovx rats. In bone marrow the amount of hematopoietic (red) and fat (white) tissue was also determined.

Ecd reduced fat tissue significantly compared to controls while the total muscle mass was increased (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, LDL- and triglyceride concentrations were decreased whereas those of HDL were increased. Bone red marrow increased significantly while less white bone marrow was present. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4) and triiodthyronin (T3) remained unaltered. Fasting serum glucose concentrations where lower in Ecd treated than in ovx controls. It is concluded that Ecd at nM concentrations has effects to prevent the development of the metabolic syndrome including arteriosclerosis following ovx of rats. The increased amount of hematopoietic tissue in the bone marrow may also be used clinically for age related anaemia. Together with the described antiosteoporotic complaints Ecd may be an ideal compound to replace hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.