title: Dioscorea batatas extract attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice by decreasing expression of inflammatory cytokines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the present study was to determine whether Dioscorea batatas (DB) extract reduces visceral fat accumulation and obesity-related biomarkers in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and whether genes associated with adipogenesis and inflammation could be modulated by a diet containing DB extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10 per group): normal diet (ND), HFD, 100 mg/kg DB extract-gavage with HFD, and 200 mg/kg DB extract-gavage with HFD. The mice were fed the experimental diets for 14 weeks. At 12 weeks, micro-computed X-ray tomography (micro-CT) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplementation of the diet with DB extract for 14 weeks significantly prevented HFD-induced increases in body weight, visceral adipose tissue, plasma lipid levels, and leptins. The area of visceral fat was reduced by DB extract supplementation when examined by micro-CT. Supplementation with DB extract resulted in the downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factor (C/ERBa) and its target gene (CD36) in epididymal adipose tissue, compared to HFD alone. DB extract decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6) in epididymal adipose tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that DB extract may prevent HFD-induced obesity by downregulating the expression of genes related to adipogenesis and inflammation in visceral adipose tissue.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
authors: Hyo-Wook
authors: HW
authors: Gil
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
authors: Eun-Young
authors: EY
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
authors: Ji-Hye
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors: Yong-Sik
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea.
authors: Byung-Eui
authors: BE
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Chemistry, Gyeongsangbuk-do Medical Crop Cluster, Ahandong, Korea.
authors: Jeong Woo
authors: JW
authors: Suk
authors: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors: Ho-Yeon
authors: HY
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha