title: Melanin-concentrating hormone-1 receptor antagonism and anti-obesity effects  of ethanolic extract from Morus alba leaves in diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Korea, Morus alba leaves have been traditionally administered as natural therapeutic agent for the alleviating dropsy and diabetes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to evaluate melanin-concentrating hormone receptor subtype 1 (MCH1) antagonism of the ethanol extract of Morus alba leaves (EMA) and its anti-obesity effect in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The binding affinity of EMA for the MCH1 receptor with europium-labeled MCH (Eu-MCH), the function of recombinant MCH1 receptors expressed in CHO cells, and the anti-obesity effects in DIO mice were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCH1 receptor binding studies showed, EMA exhibited a potent inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 2.3+/-1.0 microg/ml. EMA (10-100 microg/ml) also inhibited the intracellular calcium mobilization with the recombinant MCH1 receptors expressed in CHO cells. In an anti-obesity study with DIO mice, longterm oral administrations of EMA for 32 consecutive days produced a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and hepatic lipid accumulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that chronic treatment with EMA exerts an anti-obesity effect in DIO mice, and its direct MCH1 receptor antagonism may contribute to decrease body weight.
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 100 Jangdong, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Shi Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Sunghou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Byung Koo
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Young Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee