Nutr Res Pract.  2022 Feb;16(1):46-59. 10.4162/nrp.2022.16.1.46.

The protective effects of Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice

• Kim MJ
• Kim JH
• Lee S
• Kim B
• Kim HY

• KMID: 2525512
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2022.16.1.46

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) has remarkable bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. On the other hand, the effects of AY against obesity-induced insulin resistance have not been reported. Therefore, this study examined the potential of AY against obesity-associated insulin resistance in highfat diet (HFD)-fed mice.
MATERIALS/METHODS
An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a 60% HFD for 16 weeks. The C57BL6/When ethyl acetate fraction from AY (EFAY) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally to mice fed a HFD for the last 4 weeks. Normal and control groups were administered water orally. The body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. Dietary intake was measured every other day. After dissection, blood and tissues were collected from the mice.
RESULTS
The administration of EFAY reduced body and organ weights significantly compared to HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY-administered groups also improved the serum lipid profile by decreasing the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. In addition, EFAY ameliorated the insulin resistance-related metabolic dysfunctions, including the fasting blood glucose and serum insulin level, compared to the HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY inhibited lipid synthesis and insulin resistance by down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase and up-regulation of the AMPactivated protein kinase pathway. EFAY also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver, indicating that EFAY protected hepatic injury induced by obesity.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that EFAY improved obesity-associated insulin resistance by regulating the lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting that AY could be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and insulin resistance.

Keyword

High-fat diet; insulin resistance; obesity; plants

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on the body weight change in high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks. The values are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 6).Normal, 10% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; Control, 60% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; EFAY100, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (100 mg/kg); EFAY200, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (200 mg/kg).a–cMeans with the different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) by a Duncan’s multiple range test.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on the lipid profile in high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks. (A) Triglyceride; (B) Total cholesterol; (C) LDL cholesterol; (D) HDL cholesterol. The values are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 6).Normal, 10% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; Control, 60% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; EFAY100, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (100 mg/kg); EFAY200, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (200 mg/kg).a–cMeans with the different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) by a Duncan’s multiple range test.

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on fasting blood glucose (A) serum insulin (B), and HOMA-IR (C) in high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks. The values are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 6).Normal, 10% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; Control, 60% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; EFAY100, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (100 mg/kg); EFAY200, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (200 mg/kg).a–dMeans with the different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) by a Duncan’s multiple range test.

• 

  Fig. 4 Effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on FAS, p-AMPK/AMPK, and p-ACC/ACC protein expressions in the liver of high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks. The values are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 6).HFD, high-fat diet; EFAY, ethyl acetate fraction from AY; Normal, 10% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; Control, 60% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; EFAY100, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (100 mg/kg); EFAY200, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (200 mg/kg); FAS, fatty acid synthase; p-AMPK, phospho-AMPK; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; p-ACC, phospho-ACC; ACC, acetyl-CoA carboxylase.a–dMeans with the different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) by a Duncan’s multiple range test.

• 

  Fig. 5 Effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda on AST (A), ALT (B), and MDA (C) levels in high fat-fed C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks. The values are reported as the mean ± SD (n = 6).AST, aspartate transaminase; Normal, 10% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; Control, 60% fat diet + oral administration of drinking water; EFAY100, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (100 mg/kg); EFAY200, 60% fat diet + oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction from Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (200 mg/kg); ALT, alanine aminotransferase; MDA, malondialdehyde.a–dMeans with the different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) by a Duncan's multiple range test.

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