Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of chufa (Cyperus esculentus L.) in mice fed a high-fat diet

This study was aimed to clarify the effect of defatted chufa (Cyperus esculentus L., DC) on diet-induced obesity and lipid metabolism in mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed 1 of 4 experimental diets for 7 weeks: a normal diet (N), a high-fat diet (HF), a high-fat diet with 5% DC (LDC), and a high-fat diet with 10% DC (HDC). DC supplementation (10%) significantly reduced body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, and adipocyte size increased by high-fat diet although there was no significant difference between HF group and LDC group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the HDC group were significantly decreased compared to those of the HF group. The hepatic triglyceride levels also decreased significantly with 10% DC supplementation, but not changed with 5% DC supplementation. Serum insulin and leptin levels in the LDC and HDC groups were significantly decreased compared to those of the HF group. These results suggest that defatted chufa may be useful for the prevention of diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.