Fraxinus excelsior seed extract FraxiPure™ limits weight gains and hyperglycemia in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to determine whether a Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract, FraxiPure™ (0.5% in the diet), limits weight gain and hyperglycemia in mice. In a previous report, we identified several secoiridoids in FraxiPure™, some of which activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in vitro and inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. In a separate study, FraxiPure™ reduced glycemia in healthy volunteers, following an oral glucose tolerance test. These findings suggest that FraxiPure™ has antiobesity and antihyperglycemia effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

FraxiPure™ was tested in mice that were fed a high-fat diet over 16 weeks and compared with low-fat and high-fat diet controls. Weight gain, omental and retroperitoneal fat, fasting blood glucose, and fasting blood insulin were measured.

RESULTS:

FraxiPure™ reduced gains in body weight by 32.30% (p < 0.05), omental fat by 17.92%, and retroperitoneal fat by 17.78%. FraxiPure™ also lowered fasting blood glucose levels by 76.52% (p < 0.001) and plasma insulin levels by 53.43% (p < 0.05) after 16 weeks. Moreover, FraxiPure™ lowered liver weight gains by 63.62% (p < 0.05) and the incidence of fatty livers by 66.67%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our novel results demonstrate the antiobesity effects of chronic administration of an F. excelsior seed extract and confirm its ability to regulate glycemia and insulinemia. In addition, this extract, which is rich in secoiridoid glucosides, protects against obesity-related liver steatosis.

• Authors: Alvin Ibarra, Naisheng Bai, Kan He, Antoine Bily, Julien Cases, Marc Roller, Shengmin Sang
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 479-85 (Apr 15 2011) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21036576 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Obesity Agents
• Blood Glucose
• Dietary Fats
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Insulin
• PPAR alpha
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (drug effects, metabolism)
• Animals
• Anti-Obesity Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Dietary Fats (adverse effects)
• Fatty Liver (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Fraxinus
• Hyperglycemia (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Incidence
• Insulin (blood)
• Liver (drug effects)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Obese
• Obesity (chemically induced, metabolism, prevention & control)
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• PPAR alpha
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Seeds
• Weight Gain (drug effects)