Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of a proprietary herb and fiber combination (S&S PWH) in rats fed high-fat diets

J Med Food. 2008 Mar;11(1):169-78. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2007.082.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of S&S PWH, a proprietary herb and fiber combination (Bionutrigen Inc., Daejon, Republic of Korea), on body weight and lipid metabolism in rats fed with a high-fat diet. Three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed different diets for a 6-week period: normal control diet containing 5% (wt/wt) corn oil (NC group), high-fat diet containing 10% (wt/wt) lard plus 5% (wt/wt) corn oil (HF group), and high-fat diet supplemented with powdered 5% (wt/wt) S&S PWH (S&S PWH group). The body weights and relative weights of the epididymal and perirenal white adipose tissue were significantly lower in the S&S PWH group than in the HF group. S&S PWH supplementation significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, whereas it elevated the ratio of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total-cholesterol and improved the atherogenic index. The accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets and the epididymal white adipocyte size were less in the S&S PWH group than in the HF group. Hepatic hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activities were significantly lower, while adipocyte lipoprotein lipase activity was significantly higher, in the S&S PWH group than in the HF group. These beneficial effects may be due to the combined properties of the phenolic compounds present in high concentrations (1.89 g/100 g) in the S&S PWH. In conclusion, these results suggest that S&S PWH can be considered as an anti-obesity functional formula that is effective for suppressing body weight gain and enhancing lipid profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cholesterol / analysis
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fiber / analysis
  • Epididymis
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / metabolism
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Male
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Preparations / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Preparations / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sterol O-Acyltransferase / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / analysis
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Phenols
  • Plant Preparations
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases
  • Sterol O-Acyltransferase
  • Lipoprotein Lipase