Anti-obesity effects of actinidia polygama extract in mice with high-fat diet induced obesity

Abstract

Actinidia polygama has been used as a herbal folk medicine for treating pain, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. In the present study, the anti-obesity properties of Actinidia polygama extract (APE) were investigated in mice with high-fat diet induced obesity. APE treatment of high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice significantly reduced body weight, adipose tissue mass and serum triglyceride and leptin levels relative to the HFD-fed mice. Food intake did not differ between the HFD and HFD+APE groups, although the food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly decreased in the HFD+APE group compared with the HFD group. Histological examination showed that the sizes of the adipocytes were significantly smaller in the HFD+APE group compared with the HFD group. Serum levels of aspartate transaminase were significantly decreased in the HFD+APE mice compared with the HFD-fed mice, but serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were not significantly changed in the HFD+APE mice compared with the levels in the normal diet (ND)-fed and HFD-fed mice. These results suggest that APE may be useful for treating metabolic diseases, including obesity and hyperlipidemia, without toxic side effects. Copyright © 2013 Spandidos Publications Ltd.