J Nutr Health.  2015 Apr;48(2):133-139. 10.4163/jnh.2015.48.2.133.

Effects of a Pueraria lobata-root based combination supplement containing Rehmannia glutinosa and aerobic exercise on improvement of metabolic dysfunctions in ovariectomized rats

• Oh SA
• Ok HM
• Kim HJ
• Lee WJ
• Kwon O

• KMID: 2327183
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2015.48.2.133

Abstract

PURPOSE
There is a fair amount of evidence indicating that increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance is associated with postmenopausal state, but can be modulated by diet and exercise. In this study, we explored whether a Pueraria lobata root-based supplement containing Rehmannia glutinosa (PR) and/or aerobic treadmill exercise can modify the metabolic changes associated with estrogen deficiency.
METHODS
Seventy rats were randomly assigned to the following groups for 8 weeks (n=10 per group): SHAM, sham-operated; PR0, ovariectomized (OVX) control; PR200, OVX with PR200 mg/kg B.W; PR400, OVX with PR400 mg/kg B.W; EPR0, OVX with exercise; EPR200, OVX with exercise and PR200 mg/kg B.W; EPR400, OVX with exercise and PR400 mg/kg B.W.
RESULTS
OVX induced significant increases in body weight, food intake, fat mass, LDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose, confirming induction of menopausal symptoms. PR supplementation or exercise significantly suppressed the above mentioned changes through different regulatory elements in adipose tissue: PR supplement upregulated adiponectin gene expression and aerobic exercise upregulated adiponectin and insulin receptor gene expression and a combination of PR supplement and aerobic exercise showed an additive effect on adiponectin gene expression.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, the results of this study suggest that PR supplement has a potential to provide health benefits in OVX rats through leptin and adiponectin secretion. In addition, the data suggest that combination of exercise and PR would have additive effects on metabolic dysfunction associated with estrogen deficiency.

Keyword

Pueraria lobata; Rehmannia glutinosa; aerobic exercise; metabolic dysfunction; ovariectomized rats

MeSH Terms

Adiponectin
Adipose Tissue
Animals
Blood Glucose
Body Weight
Diet
Eating
Estrogens
Exercise*
Fasting
Gene Expression
Insulin Resistance
Insurance Benefits
Leptin
Obesity
Pueraria*
Rats*
Receptor, Insulin
Rehmannia*
Adiponectin
Blood Glucose
Estrogens
Leptin
Receptor, Insulin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of PR and aerobic exercise on leptin and adiponectin gene expression the retroperitoneal fat of ovariectomized rats: (A) leptin and (B) adiponectin. SHAM, sham operated; PR0, ovariectomized control; PR200, ovariectomized with PR200 mg/kg B.W; PR400, ovariectomized with PR400 mg/kg B.W; EPR0, ovariectomized with exercise; EPR200, ovariectomized with exercise and PR200 mg/kg B.W; EPR400, ovariectomized with exercise and PR400 mg/kg B.W. *p < 0.05 SHAM vs. PR0. Values not sharing the same letter were significantly different in the OVX group at p < 0.05.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of PR and aerobic exercise on IR gene expression in the organ of ovariectomized rats: (A) liver and (B) adipose tissue. SHAM, sham operated; PR0, ovariectomized control; PR200, ovariectomized with PR200 mg/kg B.W; PR400, ovariectomized with PR400 mg/kg B.W; EPR0, ovariectomized with exercise; EPR200, ovariectomized with exercise and PR200 mg/kg B.W; EPR400, ovariectomized with exercise and PR400 mg/kg B.W; IR, insulin receptor. *p < 0.05 SHAM vs. PR0. Values not sharing the same letter were significantly different in the OVX group at p < 0.05.

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