The efficacy of Plantago asiatica L. water extract on lipid metabolism in a high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice

BackgroundPlantago Asiatica L. (PA), belonging to Plantaginaceae, has been reported to have antioxidant and lipid metabolism benefits. Most studies have been conducted at intercellular levels, so we investigated the effect of Plantago Asiatica L. water extract (PAE) based on optimized extract conditions through in vitro tests of our previous studies.ObjectiveIn this study, we chose the optimized extract of PAE by different extract conditions and investigated the anti-obesity effect of PAE in vivo.ResultsPAE was administered orally for 6 weeks to the mice. Not only bodyweight and food intake but also biochemical plasma analysis and protein expression related to lipid metabolism were measured. Bodyweight and food efficiency rate (FER) significantly decreased in the PAE groups. Lipid contents in both hepatic and plasma levels significantly decreased, but fecal lipid contents increased in the PAE groups. Pancreatic lipase activity was inhibited in the PAE groups. The protein expression levels of factors related to lipid metabolism or adipogenesis were evaluated to identify lipid metabolism in the liver. The results showed that the protein expression levels of phospho-5'AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK ratio, phospho-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (p-ACC)/ACC ratio, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) increased, but those of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) decreased in the PAE groups.ConclusionOur results indicated that with less toxicity, PAE was effective in preventing obesity by being involved in the AMPK pathway and adipogenesis, so it might be a safe potential material for an anti-obesity agent or functional supplements.