title: UP601, a standardized botanical composition composed of Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis for weight loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of obesity is surging in an alarming rate all over the world. Pharmaceutical drugs are considered potential adjunctive therapy to lifestyle modification. However, for most, besides being too expensive, their long term usages are hindered by their severe adverse effects. Here we describe the effect of UP601, a standardized blend of extracts from Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis, in modulating a number of obesity-related phenotypic and biochemical markers in a high-fat high-fructose (HFF)-induced C57BL/6J mouse model of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adipogenesis activity of the composition was assessed in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro. Effects of UP601 on body weight and metabolic markers were evaluated. It was administered at oral doses of 300 mg/kg, 450 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg for 7 weeks. Orlistat (40 mg/kg/day) was used as a positive control. Body compositions of mice were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum biomarkers were measured for liver function and lipid profiling. Relative organ weights were determined. Histopathological analysis was performed for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) scoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UP601 at 250 μg/ml resulted in 1.8-fold increase in lipolysis. Statistically significant changes in body weight (decreased by 9.1, 19.6 and 25.6% compared to the HFF group at week-7) were observed for mice treated with UP601 at 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. Reductions of 9.1, 16.9, and 18.6% in total cholesterol; 45.0, 55.0, 63.6% in triglyceride; 34.8, 37.1 and 41.6% in LDL; 3.2, 21.6 (P = 0.03) and 33.7% (P = 0.005) in serum glucose were observed for UP601 at 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. Body fat distribution was found reduced by 31.6 and 17.2% for the 450 mg/kg UP601 and orlistat, respectively, from the DEXA scan analysis. Up to an 89.1% reduction in mesenteric fat deposit was observed for UP601 in relative organ weight. Statistically significant improvements in NASH scores were observed for mice treated with UP601.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UP601, a standardized botanical composition from Morus alba, Yerba mate and Magnolia officinalis could potentially be used for achieving healthy weight loss and maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA. myimam@unigen.net.
authors.forename: Mesfin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yimam
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brownell
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., #450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam, 330-863, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., #450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam, 330-863, Korea.
authors.forename: Eu-Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., #450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam, 330-863, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., #450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam, 330-863, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., #450-86, Maebong-Ro, Dongnam-Gu, Cheonan-Si, Chungnam, 330-863, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ran
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Unigen, Inc., 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D030017:Ilex; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D031566:Magnolia; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D031625:Morus; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000077403:Orlistat; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007783:Lactones; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077403:Orlistat
keywords: High-fat high-fructose-induced obesity; Mouse; Obesity; Plant extract