title: Effect of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) on obesity, lipid metabolism and uterine epithelial proliferation in ovariectomized rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the potential of St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) to prevent obesity and abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by ovariectomy in a rat model without stimulatory activity on uterus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were treated for 6 weeks with 70% ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum [HPEs: whole plant (WHPE) and flower and leaves (FLHPE)], β-estradiol-3-benzoate at a dose of 50 µg/kg/day (E2) or vehicle (distilled water).
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, OVX increased body weight gain and adiposity and showed higher food efficacy ratio. OVX also increased the serum cholesterol as well as insulin resistance, while reducing uterus weight and uterine epithelial proliferation rate. HPEs (WHPE and FLHPE) showed estrogen-like effect on body weight gain, adipose tissue weight and food efficacy ratio in OVX rats. HPEs prevented hypercholesterolemia induced by OVX more effectively than E2. E2 increased uterus weight and epithelial proliferation rate in OVX rats, while HPEs maintained them at the level of the sham-operated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding demonstrates that HPEs can be considered as an effective agent to prevent OVX-induced obesity without stimulatory activity on uterus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition/Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Muan, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition/Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Muan, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rhuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Jeonnam Biofood Technology Center, Naju, Jeonnam 520-330, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Central Research Institute of Hawon Pharmaceutical, Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam, 529-851, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition/Research Institute of Human Ecology, Mokpo National University, 1666 Youngsan-ro, Muan, Jeonnam 534-729, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon-A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum); insulin resistance; obesity; ovariectomy; uterine epithelial proliferation