Effects of xanthohumol-rich extract from the hop on fatty acid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet

J Oleo Sci. 2014;63(2):159-68. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess13136. Epub 2014 Jan 14.

Abstract

Xanthohumol is the major prenylated flavonoid of female inflorescences of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) and is a hydrophobic flavonoid. We examined the effects of dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract in obese rats that was induced by feeding a high-fat diet. Dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract significantly lowered the body weight gain of these rats compared to rats fed a high-fat diet without the extract. The increase of body weight, liver weight, and triacylglycerol levels in the plasma and liver of the rats fed a high-fat diet was ameliorated by dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract. Dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract tended to reduce hepatic fatty acid synthesis through the reduction of hepatic SREBP1c mRNA expression in the rats fed a high-fat diet. The excreted of triacylglycerol into feces also was promoted by dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract. Plasma adiponectin levels in the rats fed a high-fat diet also tended to be elevated by dietary xanthohumol-rich hop extract. Thus, xanthohumol-rich hop extract may inhibit the increase of body weight, liver weight, and triacylglycerol in the plasma and liver induced by feeding high-fat diet through the regulation of hepatic fatty acid metabolism and inhibition of intestinal fat absorption. Therefore, xanthohumol-rich hop extract may exert preventive function on the increase of body weight and tissue triacylglycerol levels by overnutrition.

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects*
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humulus*
  • Intestinal Absorption / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Obesity / etiology*
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Propiophenones / administration & dosage*
  • Propiophenones / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 / genetics
  • Triglycerides / metabolism
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Adiponectin
  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Flavonoids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Propiophenones
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2
  • Triglycerides
  • xanthohumol