title: The nutritional composition and anti-obesity effects of an herbal mixed extract containing Allium fistulosum and Viola mandshurica in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In traditional oriental medicine, A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica are considered to be effective in promoting blood circulation. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether a solution containing both A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica (AFE + VME) extracts has synergistic effects on the treatment of hyperlipidemia and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-obesity effects of an herbal extract containing Allium fistulosum and Viola mandshurica (AFE + VME) were investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. AFE + VME was orally administrated to mice with the HFD at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. We observed the effects of mixed extract on body weight, fat mass, serum lipid levels, and mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in the adipose tissue of mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nutritional analysis revealed that this mixed extract is high in carbohydrate (72.2 g/100 g) and protein (11.5 g/100 g); low in fat (1.7 g/100 g); rich in vitamins E (4.8 mg/100 g), B1 (14.8 mg/100 g), B2 (1.0 mg/100 g), niacin (7.9 mg/100 g), and folic acid (1.57 mg/100 g); and rich in minerals such as calcium (600 mg/100 g), iron (106.1 mg/100 g), and zinc (5.8 mg/100 g). The oral administration of AFE + VME in obese mice reduced body weight, tissue weight, adipocyte size, and lipid accumulation in the liver compared with HFD control mice. AFE + VME also decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and leptin concentrations. Furthermore, AFE + VME markedly increased the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2), and adiponectin and decreased leptin expression in the epididymal white adipose tissue. Our results suggest that the extract containing A. fistulosum and V. mandshurica improved lipid metabolism via the up-regulation of PPAR-γ, UCP-2, and adiponectin expression and the down-regulation of leptin in HFD-induced obese mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, the extract containing Allium fistulosum and Viola mandshurica may be a potentially effective therapy for obesity and its related metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong-daero 1672, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, Republic of Korea. yysung@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Yoon-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine and Bioscience, Daejeon University, Daejeon, 300-716, Republic of Korea. sksh518@dju.kr.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of JinAn Red Ginseng, Jinan-Eup, Jinan-Gun, Chonbuk, 567-801, Republic of Korea. e-yoo0612@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Byoung Wan
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong-daero 1672, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, Republic of Korea. hkkim@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D032413:Viola / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; C000604390:Ucp2 protein, mouse; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D002784:Cholesterol