title: Effect of shanzha, a Chinese herbal product, on obesity and dyslipidemia in hamsters receiving high-fat diet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study is designed to investigate the effect of shanzha (Crataegus pinnatifida) on obesity or dyslipidemia induced by high-fat diet in hamsters and characterize the role of PPARalpha in this action of shanzha.
  
  
  METHODS
  We induced dyslipidemia and obesity in hamsters using high-fat diet and treated hamsters with shanzha or vehicle for 7 days. We measured the body weight, adipose tissue weights, and food intake of hamsters. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined at the beginning and end of this treatment. Effect of shanzha on adipogenesis was examined in vitro and change of PPARalpha was analyzed using Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The food intake, body weights, and weights of both brown and white adipose tissues were markedly reduced in hamsters receiving shanzha as compared with the vehicle-treated control. Plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased by this shanzha treatment while HDL-C was elevated. The effects of shanzha were reversed by the combined treatment with PPARalpha antagonist, MK886. Shanzha inhibited the fat droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was abolished by MK886. Western blot results showed activation of PPARalpha by shanzha in hamster adipose tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that shanzha could activate PPARalpha to improve dyslipidemia or obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Yen-Pou, Ping Tung Shien, 90701, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Daih-Huang
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ching-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Po-Chuen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Kai-Chun
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Fu-An
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Juei-Tang
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001391:Azo Compounds; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006224:Cricetinae; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D047493:PPAR alpha; C544212:shanzha; C011049:oil red O