title: Populus balsamifera L. (Salicaceae) mitigates the development of obesity and improves insulin sensitivity in a diet-induced obese mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  : In previous in vitro bioassay studies, Populus balsamifera L. (Salicaceae), a medicinal plant ethnobotanically identified from the traditional pharmacopoeia of the Cree of Eeyou Istchee (Eastern James Bay area of Canada), exhibited a strong anti-obesity potential by potently inhibiting adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this plant extract in mitigating the development of obesity and the metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were subjected for eight weeks to a standard diet (CHOW), a high fat diet (HFD; DIO group), or HFD to which Populus balsamifera was incorporated at 125 and 250 mg/kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that Populus balsamifera decreased in a dose-dependent manner the weight gain of whole body, retroperitoneal fat pad and liver as compared to DIO controls and reduced the severity of hepatic macrovesicular steatosis and triglyceride accumulation. This plant extract also decreased glycemia in the second half of the feeding period and improved insulin sensitivity by diminishing insulin levels and the leptin/adiponectin ratio, as well as augmenting adiponectin levels. These effects were associated with slightly but significantly reduced food intake with 250 mg/kg Populus balsamifera as well as with an increase in energy expenditure (increase in skin temperature and increased expression of uncoupling protein-1; UCP-1). Data also suggest other mechanisms, such as inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, decrease of hepatic inflammatory state and potential increase in hepatic fatty acid oxidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results confirm the potential of Populus balsamifera as a culturally adapted therapeutic approach for the care and treatment of obesity and diabetes among the Cree.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harbilas
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brault
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallerand
authors.forename: Louis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Martineau
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Musallam
authors.forename: Pierre S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032107:Populus; D012881:Skin Temperature; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3