scholarly journals Identification of the Active Ingredient and Beneficial Effects of Vitex rotundifolia Fruits on Menopausal Symptoms in Ovariectomized Rats

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1033
Author(s):  
Ji Hwan Lee ◽  
Sullim Lee ◽  
Quynh Nhu Nguyen ◽  
Hung Manh Phung ◽  
Myoung-Sook Shin ◽  
...  

Estrogen replacement therapy is a treatment to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Many studies suggest that natural bioactive ingredients from plants resemble estrogen in structure and biological functions and can relieve symptoms of menopause. The fruit of V. rotundifolia, called “Man HyungJa” in Korean, is a traditional medicine used to treat headache, migraine, eye pain, neuralgia, and premenstrual syndrome in Korea and China. The aim of the present study was to confirm that V. rotundifolia fruit extract (VFE) exerts biological functions similar to those of estrogen in menopausal syndrome. We investigated its in vitro effects on MCF-7 cells and in vivo estrogen-like effects on weight gain and uterine contraction in ovariectomized rats. Using the polar extract, the active constituents of VFE (artemetin, vitexicarpin, hesperidin, luteolin, vitexin, and vanillic acid) with estrogen-like activity were identified in MCF-7 cells. In animal experiments, the efficacy of VFE in ameliorating body weight gain was similar to that of estrogen, as evidenced from improvements in uterine atrophy. Vitexin and vitexicarpin are suggested as the active constituents of V. rotundifolia fruits.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karunakaran Reddy Sankaran ◽  
Lokanatha Oruganti ◽  
Muni Swamy Ganjayi ◽  
Venkataramaiah Chintha ◽  
Muni Kesavulu Muppuru ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Consumption of energy dense foods and sedentary lifestyles have led to high prevalence of obesity and associated disorders. Intensive research efforts have focussed to develop effective alternative therapeutics from plant sources. Bauhiniastatins have been reported to possess antineoplastic activity. In the present study, Bauhiniastatin-1 (BSTN1) was isolated and purified from Bauhinia purpurea and evaluated for its therapeutic efficacy against adipogenesis and obesity using high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rodent model and 3T3-L1 cells.Methods: We performed in-vitro experiments like MTT assay, Oil Red O (ORO) stain, cellular lipid content, glycerol release and RT-PCR analysis in 3T3-L1 cells. In-vivo parameters like body weight gain, body composition, plasma adipokines, serum & liver lipid profiles, liver marker enzymes, western blot analysis and histopathological examination were conducted in rat model. In addition, molecular docking studies were also performed to understand interaction of BSTN1 with peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptor (PPAR-γ) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which supported our experimental results.Results: BSTN1 at 20 μM significantly (p<0.001) inhibited cell differentiation and lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Mechanistic studies showed that mRNA expression of key adipogenic markers, PPAR-γ, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1) were down-regulated while AMPK was up-regulated by BSTN1. Oral administration of BSTN1 (5 mg/kg. b.wt.) to HFD-induced obese rats substantially decreased body weight gain, fat mass, serum and liver lipid levels and promoted integrity of hepatic and adipose tissue architecture compared to HFD-control rats. In BSTN1 administered groups, decreased serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, decreased plasma leptin but increased adiponectin levels were noted. Western blot analysis of adipose and hepatic tissues collected from BSTN1 treated rats showed decreased expression level of PPAR-γ but increase in AMPK expression relative to the untreated group. In-silico studies showed strong binding interactions of BSTN1 against PPAR-γ and AMPK, the key molecules of adipogenesis and obesity.Conclusions: Taken together, the results suggest that BSTN1 could be promising molecule for the treatment of diet-induced obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


Author(s):  
Geke Aline Boer ◽  
Jenna Hunt ◽  
Maria Gabe ◽  
Johanne Windeløv ◽  
Alexander Sparre-Ulricht ◽  
...  

Background and purpose The incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), secreted by the enteroendocrine K-cells in the proximal intestine, may regulate lipid metabolism and adiposity but its exact role in these processes is unclear. Experimental approach We characterized in vitro and in vivo antagonistic properties of a novel GIP analogue, mGIPAnt-1. We further assessed the in vivo pharmacokinetic profile of this antagonist, as well as its ability to affect high-fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain in ovariectomized mice during an 8-week treatment period. Key results mGIPAnt-1 showed competitive antagonistic properties to the GIP receptor (GIPR) in vitro as it inhibited GIP-induced cAMP accumulation in COS-7 cells. Furthermore, mGIPAnt-1 was capable of inhibiting GIP-induced glucoregulatory and insulinotropic effects in vivo and has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile with a half-life of 7.2 hours in C57Bl6 female mice. Finally, sub-chronic treatment with mGIPAnt-1 in ovariectomized HFD mice resulted in a reduction of body weight and fat mass. Conclusion and Implications mGIPAnt-1 successfully inhibited acute GIP-induced effects in vitro and in vivo and sub-chronically induces resistance to HFD-induced weight gain in ovariectomized mice. Our results support the development of GIP antagonists for the therapy of obesity.


Reproduction ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Yoon Chang ◽  
Dae Sung Kim ◽  
Hye Soo Kim ◽  
Sung Yeon Kim

HPC 03 is herbal formula that consists of extracts from Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale Makino and Cinnamomum cassia Presl. The present study evaluated the estrogenic potential of HPC 03 by using in vitro and in vivo models. The regulatory mechanisms of HPC 03 in estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells were assessed. HPC 03 induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells, and the proliferation was blocked by the addition of the estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. The estrogen receptorα/β luciferase activities were significantly increased by HPC 03 treatment, which also increased the mRNA expression of the estrogen-responsive genes Psen2, Pgr and Ctsd. Also, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of HPC 03 on menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized rats. HPC 03 treatment in OVX rats significantly affected the uterine weight, increased the expression of estrogen-responsive genes Pgr and Psen2 in uterus, increased bone mineral density loss in the femur and inhibited body weight increase. Serum E2, collagen type 1 and osteocalcin were significantly increased, while serum LH, FSH and ALP were decreased compared with OVX rats. HPC 03 may be a promising candidate for the treatment of menopause, but further research is necessary to determine whether the observed effects also occur in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99
Author(s):  
Amanda G. Elias ◽  
Julia S. da Silva ◽  
Rafaela L. Klein ◽  
Francieli U. I. Amaral ◽  
Marcelo D. Arbo ◽  
...  

Introduction: Nimesulide is a potent anti-inflammatorywith rapid and long-lasting effects, but also with a high riskof hepatotoxicity. Objective: This work aimed to preventnimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity through the associationof nimesulide with a hepatoprotective agent. Materials andMethods: First, we tested three hepatoprotective agents:N-acetylcysteine, L-carnitine, and Gingko biloba extract inan in vitro hepatic cell model. Both N-acetylcysteine and G.biloba showed promisor results. We selected N-acetylcysteineto continue the studies in an animal model. In vivo study wasperformed using male Wistar rats divided in 4 groups: control,nimesulide (100mg/kg/day), nimesulide (100mg/kg/day) +N-acetylcysteine (100mg/kg/day) and N-acetylcysteine alone(100mg/kg/day). Treatments were given by gavage, daily, for15 days. Results: Animals receiving nimesulide alone showedlower body weight gain compared to control. Body weightgain in the nimesulide + N-acetylcysteine group was higherthan nimesulide alone, evidencing lower toxicity. However,the body weight gain of the nimesulide + N-acetylcysteinegroup was still lower than the control animals. Animals treatedwith nimesulide alone presented an increased relative mass ofheart, liver, and spleen and significant hepatic damage seen inmicroscopy when compared to other groups. N-acetylcysteineco-administered with nimesulide prevented the increasedheart mass, but the same was not true with liver and spleen.Conclusions: This work evidence partial protection elicitedby the association of N-acetylcysteine and nimesulide againstnimesulide-induced hepatotoxicity.


Author(s):  
Pare DRAMANE ◽  
Hilou ADAMA ◽  
Adrian POTÂRNICHE ◽  
Mabozou KPEMISSI ◽  
Orsolya SÁRPATAKI ◽  
...  

Caralluma acutangula (Decne.) (CA) (Asclepiadaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Burkina Faso for the management of weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extract of CA on body weight, food intake, blood biochemistry parameters on experimental obesity rat model. One group received CA 400 mg/kg b.w. per day and was fed on hyperlipidic diet (HD), while the control group received HD only for three weeks long. The phytochemical investigation of extract showed a high total phenolic content (36.21±1.36 mg GAE/100mg of extract) and total flavonoids (4.98 ±0.31 QE/100 mg of extract). In the end, CA-HD treated group had a body weight loss of 2%, compared to HD group who presented a body weight gain of 15%. The CA-HD treated group showed also a lower levels of plasma triglyceride (136.57±13.82 mg/dL) and glycemia (187.74±31.16 mg/dL) compared to HD (206.02±23.82 and respectively 230.96±79.07 mg/dL) (p<0.05). CA extract also showed a good anti-oxidant activity in vivo (effect on antioxydant enzyme (MDA, GPX, SOD) and in vitro (inhibition of DPPH radical, ferric ion reduction). This study showed that CA is a potential natural remedy for the control of body weight and alleviation of obesity related disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 6257-6267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Luo ◽  
Omar Miranda-Garcia ◽  
Geoff Sasaki ◽  
Jinling Wang ◽  
Neil F. Shay

Genistein and daidzein decrease mice food intake, ameliorate symptoms of metabolic syndrome, including decreasing body weight gain, and improving glucose metabolism, and appear to produce differential effects, possibly via the regulation of LXR-mediated pathways.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Killion ◽  
Michelle Chen ◽  
James R. Falsey ◽  
Glenn Sivits ◽  
Todd Hager ◽  
...  

Abstract Antagonism or agonism of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor (GIPR) prevents weight gain and leads to dramatic weight loss in combination with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in preclinical models. Based on the genetic evidence supporting GIPR antagonism, we previously developed a mouse anti-murine GIPR antibody (muGIPR-Ab) that protected diet-induced obese (DIO) mice against body weight gain and improved multiple metabolic parameters. This work reconciles the similar preclinical body weight effects of GIPR antagonists and agonists in vivo, and here we show that chronic GIPR agonism desensitizes GIPR activity in primary adipocytes, both differentiated in vitro and adipose tissue in vivo, and functions like a GIPR antagonist. Additionally, GIPR activity in adipocytes is partially responsible for muGIPR-Ab to prevent weight gain in DIO mice, demonstrating a role of adipocyte GIPR in the regulation of adiposity in vivo.


1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Safe ◽  
Grant Mason ◽  
Thomas Sawyer ◽  
Tim Zacharewski ◽  
Mark Harris ◽  
...  

Halogenated aromatic industrial compounds, typified by the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) have been identified as residues in almost every component of the global ecosystem. Risk assessment of the complex mixtures of halogenated aromatics found in envi ronmental samples is complicated by analytical problems and the lack of toxicological information on individual compounds and mixtures. Research in our laboratory has focused on the develop ment and vadidation of the in vitro aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) induction assay in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells in culture for quantitating individual toxic halogenated aryl hydrocarbons and their mixtures. For several PCB, PCDD, PCDF congeners, their mixed bromo/chloro analogs and reconstituted mixtures there was an excellent linear correlation between their -log ED50 values for AHH induction in rat hepatoma cells and their -log ED50 values for in vivo hepatic microsomal AHH induction, inhibi tion of body weight gain and thymic atrophy in the rat. It has also been shown for selected compounds that there was a good correla tion between their in vitro AHH induction potencies and their effects in guinea pigs (AHH induction, inhibition of body weight gain) and mice (immunotoxicity). This assay system has been uti lized to quantitate the "2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents "present in extracts from diverse sources including fly ash from a municipal incinerator and pyrolyzed brom inated flame retardants which contain a complex mixture of halo genated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anzela Niraula ◽  
Rachael D Fasnacht ◽  
Kelly M Ness ◽  
Jeremy M Frey ◽  
Mauricio D Dorfman ◽  
...  

Background: In rodents, susceptibility to diet-induced obesity requires microglial activation, but the molecular components of this pathway remain incompletely defined. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels increase in the mediobasal hypothalamus during high fat diet (HFD) feeding, and the PGE2 receptor EP4 regulates microglial activation state and phagocytic activity, suggesting a potential role for microglial EP4 signaling in obesity pathogenesis. Method: Metabolic phenotyping, as assessed by body weight, energy expenditure, glucose, and insulin tolerance, was performed in microglia-specific EP4 knockout (MG-EP4 KO) mice and littermate controls on HFD. Morphological and gene expression analysis of microglia, and a histological survey of microglia-neuron interactions in the arcuate nucleus was performed. Phagocytosis was assessed using in vivo and in vitro pharmacological techniques. Results: Microglial EP4 deletion markedly reduced weight gain and food intake in response to HFD feeding. In correspondence with this lean phenotype, insulin sensitivity was also improved in the HFD-fed MG-EP4 KO mice though glucose tolerance remained surprisingly unaffected. Mechanistically, EP4-deficient microglia showed an attenuated phagocytic state marked by reduced CD68 expression and fewer contacts with POMC neuron soma and processes. These cellular changes observed in the microglial EP4 knockout mice corresponded with an increased density of POMC neurites extending into the paraventricular nucleus. Conclusion: These findings reveal that microglial EP4 signaling promotes body weight gain and insulin resistance during HFD feeding. Furthermore, the data suggest that curbing microglial phagocytic function may preserve POMC cytoarchitecture and PVN input to limit overconsumption during diet-induced obesity.


1970 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junzo Kato

ABSTRACT The anterior, middle, and posterior hypothalamus, the cortex cerebri, the anterior hypophysis as well as the diaphragm of adult ovariectomized rats were incubated in vitro with tritiated 17β-oestradiol. The uptake of tritiated oestradiol was differentially distributed intracerebrally with higher accumulation in the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis. Lowering the temperature of the incubation medium caused a reduction in the uptake of radioactivity by the anterior hypothalamus as compared to that found in other brain tissues. Tritiated oestradiol taken up in vitro by the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis tended to be retained after further incubation in a steroid-free medium. The addition of non-radioactive 17β-oestradiol to the medium inhibited the uptake of tritiated oestradiol by these tissues. Moreover, pretreatment with non-radioactive 17β-oestradiol in vivo prevented the preferential accumulation of tritiated oestradiol in vitro in the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis. These results indicate that oestradiol is preferentially taken up in vitro by the anterior hypothalamus and the hypophysis of the rat.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document