title: Aloe vera phytosterols act as ligands for PPAR and improve the expression levels of PPAR target genes in the livers of mice with diet-induced obesity.
abstract: Lophenol (Lo) and cycloartanol (Cy), minor phytosterols of Aloe vera gel, were previously identified as anti-diabetic compounds, and these compounds also reduced body fat in a type 2 diabetic model animal. In this study, we investigated the effects of Lo and Cy on peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) using a luciferase reporter assay. DNA microarray and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) analyses were also performed in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. The Aloe phytosterols activated PPAR in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of many PPAR target genes were changed in the Aloe phytosterol group compared with those in the control high-fat diet (HFD) group. In particular, the expression levels of Fatp1, Acox1, Cpt1, and Hmgcs2 were significantly increased in the Aloe phytosterol group compared with those in the control HFD group; however, the expression level of ApoCIII was significantly decreased in the Aloe phytosterol group. We confirmed that Aloe phytosterols activate PPAR transcription in vitro. In addition, quantitative gene expression analysis in DIO mice suggested that Aloe phytosterols improve fatty acid metabolism in the liver.:
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan. Electronic address:k_nomagt@morinagamilk.co.jp.
authors: Kouji
authors: K
authors: Nomaguchi
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
authors: Miyuki
authors: M
authors: Tanaka
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
authors: Eriko
authors: E
authors: Misawa
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
authors: Muneo
authors: M
authors: Yamada
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Toida
authors: Functional Food Research Department, Food Science & Technology Institute, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Zama, Japan.
authors: Keiji
authors: K
authors: Iwatsuki
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Function of Food, Division of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Goto
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Function of Food, Division of Food Sciences and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Teruo
authors: T
authors: Kawada