title: Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract on high fat diet-induced obesity and liver damage in hamsters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with an increase in adipogenesis and often accompanied with fatty liver disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa water extract (HSE) in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight-weeks-old male mice were divided into six groups (n=8 per group) and were fed either normal feed, a high fat diet (HFD), HFD supplemented with different concentrations of HSE, or HFD supplemented with anthocyanin. After 10 weeks of feeding, all the blood and livers were collected for further analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mesocricetus auratus hamster fed with a high-fat diet developed symptoms of obesity, as determined from their body weight change and from their plasma lipid levels. Meanwhile, HSE treatment reduced fat accumulation in the livers of hamsters fed with HFD in a concentration-dependent manner. Administration of HSE reduced the levels of liver cholesterol and triglycerides, which were elevated by HFD. Analysis of the effect of HSE on paraoxonase 1, an antioxidant liver enzyme, revealed that HSE potentially regulates lipid peroxides and protects organs from oxidation-associated damage. The markers of liver damage such as serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels that were elevated by HFD were also reduced on HSE treatment. The effects of HSE were as effective as treatment with anthocyanin; therefore the anthocyanins present in the HSE may play a crucial role in the protection established against HFD-induced obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion HSE administration constitutes an effective and viable treatment strategy against the development and consequences of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: To-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Beauty Science and Graduate Institute of Beauty Science Technology, Chienkuo Technology University, Changhua, Taiwan; kaoes@cc.ctu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Erl-Shyh
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; jhlin@dragon.nchu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jenq-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa; adipogenesis; obesity