α-Mangostin ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance by inhibition C-C chemokine receptor 2

Obesity induces various metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and type 2 diabetes. Fat expansion in adipose tissue induces adipose tissue dysfunction and inflammation, insulin resistance, and other metabolic syndromes. alpha-Mangostin (alpha-MG) has been previously studied for its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of alpha-MG on adipose tissue inflammation and hepatic steatosis. We categorized study animals into four groups: regular diet control mice, RD mice treated with alpha-MG, high fat diet-induced obese mice, and HFD mice treated with alpha-MG. alpha-MG treatment significantly reduced not only the body, liver, and fat weights, but also plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels in HFD mice. Additionally, adiponectin levels of alpha-MG-treated mice were significantly higher than those of control HFD mice. Immunohistochemistry of liver and adipose tissue showed that CD11c expression was reduced in alpha-MG fed obese mice. alpha-MG treatment of HFD mice down-regulated the adipose-associated inflammatory cytokines and CCR2 in both liver and adipose tissue. Moreover, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were significantly improved in alpha-MG fed obese mice. alpha-Mangostin ameliorates adipose inflammation and hepatic steatosis in HFDinduced obese mice.