Nutr Res Pract.  2014 Jun;8(3):292-296.

Effect of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) on obesity, lipid metabolism and uterine epithelial proliferation in ovariectomized rats

• You MK
• Rhuy J
• Jeong KS
• Bang MA
• Kim MS
• Kim HA

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to assess the potential of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to prevent obesity and abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by ovariectomy in a rat model without stimulatory activity on uterus.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated for 6 weeks with 70% ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum [HPEs: whole plant (WHPE) and flower and leaves (FLHPE)], beta-estradiol-3-benzoate at a dose of 50 microg/kg/day (E2) or vehicle (distilled water).
RESULTS
As expected, OVX increased body weight gain and adiposity and showed higher food efficacy ratio. OVX also increased the serum cholesterol as well as insulin resistance, while reducing uterus weight and uterine epithelial proliferation rate. HPEs (WHPE and FLHPE) showed estrogen-like effect on body weight gain, adipose tissue weight and food efficacy ratio in OVX rats. HPEs prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by OVX more effectively than E2. E2 increased uterus weight and epithelial proliferation rate in OVX rats, while HPEs maintained them at the level of the sham-operated animals.
CONCLUSIONS
Our finding demonstrates that HPEs can be considered as an effective agent to prevent OVX-induced obesity without stimulatory activity on uterus.

Keyword

St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum); insulin resistance; obesity; ovariectomy; uterine epithelial proliferation

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adiposity
Animals
Body Weight
Cholesterol
Ethanol
Female
Flowers
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypericum*
Insulin Resistance
Lipid Metabolism*
Models, Animal
Obesity*
Ovariectomy
Plants
Rats*
Uterus
Cholesterol
Ethanol

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts on body weight (a) and body weight gain (b) during experimental period. Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract

• 

  Fig. 2 Effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts on the food intake(a) and the food efficacy ratio(b). Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts on the blood glucose(a), fasting insulin(b) and HOMA-IR(c). Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract

• 

  Fig. 4 Effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts on the serum triglyceride(a) and total cholesterol(b). Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract

• 

  Fig. 5 Effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts on the uterus weight/weight. Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract

• 

  Fig. 6 Microscopic findings of uterus stained for Hematoxylin & Eosin(a) and proliferation score(b). Means with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P < 0.05). Sham-C: Sham operation + distilled water, OVX-C: Ovariectomy + distilled water, E2: Ovariectomy + estradiol, WHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum whole extract, FLHPE: Ovariectomy + Hypericum perforatum flower & leaf extract Scale bar = 100 µm. Cell proliferation score measured by degree of luminal epithelium proliferation

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