Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_209
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565586

The nutritional composition and anti-obesity effects of an herbal mixed extract containing Allium fistulosum and Viola mandshurica in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice

YY Sung 1, DS Kim 1, SH Kim 2, HK Kim 1
  • 1Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of (South)
  • 2Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of (South)

Obesity is a serious public health issue and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes [1]. This study investigated the nutritional composition and anti-obesity effects of an herbal extract containing Allium fistulosum and Viola mandshurica (AFE+VME) in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In traditional oriental medicine, A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica are considered to be effective in promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis [2]. The nutritional analysis revealed that this mixed extract is high in carbohydrate (72.2 g/100 g) and protein (11.5 g/100 g); low in fat (1.7 g/100 g); rich in vitamins E (4.8 mg/100 g), B1 (14.8 mg/100 g), B2 (1.0 mg/100 g), niacin (7.9 mg/100 g), and folic acid (1.57 mg/100 g); and rich in minerals such as calcium (600 mg/100 g), iron (106.1 mg/100 g), and zinc (5.8 mg/100 g). The oral administration of AFE+VME in mice reduced body weight, tissue weight, adipocyte size, and lipid accumulation in the liver compared with HFD control mice. AFE+VME also decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and leptin concentrations. Furthermore, AFE+VME markedly increased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2), and adiponectin and decreased leptin expression in the epididymal adipose tissue. Our results suggest that the extract containing A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica improved lipid metabolism via the up-regulation of PPAR-γ, UCP-2, and adiponectin expression and the down-regulation of leptin in HFD-induced obese mice. Therefore, the extract containing A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica may be a potentially effective therapy for obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

References:

[1] Devlin MJ, Yanovski SZ, Wilson GT. Obesity: what mental health professionals need to know. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157: 854 – 866.

[2] Xu H. Oritental material medica: a concise guide. Oriental Healing Arts Institute 1986: 44