title: Chronic administration of Eucommia leaf stimulates metabolic function of rats across several organs.
abstract: Eucommia bark (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver) has been used as an herbal medicine, and more recently, the plant's leaves have been widely used to prepare tea which may have anti-obesity properties. We used a metabolic syndrome-like rat model, produced by feeding a 35% high-fat diet (HFD), to examine potential anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome effects and mechanisms of chronic administration of Eucommia leaf as an extract or green leaf powder. Eighty rats were studied for 3 months in ten groups. Both forms of Eucommia leaves minimised increases in body weight and visceral fat in a dose-dependent fashion. Increases in plasma levels of TAG and NEFA, and insulin resistance secondary to HFD were lessened by both forms of Eucommia leaf. Concomitantly, an increase in plasma adiponectin levels and suppression of plasma resistin and TNF-α levels were confirmed. Real-time PCR studies showed that both forms of Eucommia leaf enhanced metabolic function across several organs, including diminishing ATP production (white adipose tissue), accelerating β-oxidation (liver) and increasing the use of ketone bodies/glucose (skeletal muscle), all of which may exert anti-obesity effects under HFD conditions. These findings suggest that chronic administration of either form of Eucommia leaves stimulates the metabolic function in rats across several organs. The anti-obesity and anti-metabolic syndrome activity in this rat model may be maintained through secretion and regulation of adipocytokines that depend on the accumulation of visceral fat to improve insulin resistance or hyperlipaemia.
authors.affiliation: Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan. fujikawa@suzuka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujikawa
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yurugi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soya
authors.forename: Sansei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishibe
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D031283:Eucommiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D011208:Powders; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D005947:Glucose