Melanin-concentrating hormone-1 receptor antagonism and anti-obesity effects  of ethanolic extract from Morus alba leaves in diet-induced obese mice.
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.
Oh
Kwang-Seok
KS
Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 100 Jangdong, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
Ryu
Shi Yong
SY
Lee
Sunghou
S
Seo
Ho Won
HW
Oh
Byung Koo
BK
Kim
Young Sup
YS
Lee
Byung Ho
BH