title: Acarbose versus trans-chalcone: comparing the effect of two glycosidase inhibitors on obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acarbose and trans-chalcone are glucosidase inhibitors whose beneficial effects have been demonstrated in diabetes. The present study aimed at investigating their potential effects in obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  NMRI male mice (n = 48) were subjected to a high fat diet for four weeks, which induced an initial state of obesity. One control group was given normal rodent diet. Obese animals were then switched to normal rodent diet, and divided to four groups (n = 12 in each): untreated, sham (receiving grape seed oil), and experimental groups receiving acarbose and trans-chalcone (12 mg/kg) during eight weeks. Body weight, blood glucose and other biochemical parameters including triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, HDL, AST, and ALT were measured, as well as leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Histological studies were performed on adipose cells and liver tissue samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All factors were affected in a positive manner by acarbose, save for body weight, blood sugar and leptin levels, on which acarbose effects, although observable, were not statistically significant. Grape seed oil, used as a solvent for trans-chalcone was found to possess significant effect on TG and TAC, and had beneficial effects on other factors including liver enzymes and cholesterol. Trans-chalcone effects were significant on HDL, leptin and ALT. All compounds seemed to be able to affect fat deposition in liver tissue, and decrease the size of adipose tissue cells to some extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the tested compounds were able to affect lipid accumulation in tissues and influence adipokines, which may result in an enhanced state with regard to inflammation and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jalalvand
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parichehreh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yaghmaei
authors.affiliation: National Nutrition and Food Science Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimiagar
authors.affiliation: Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebrahim-Habibi
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002599:Chalcone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000975:Antioxidants; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002599:Chalcone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D020909:Acarbose