ANTI-OBESITY COMPOSITION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for prevention, alleviation, or treatment of obesity.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A method for prevention, treatment or alleviation of obesity comprising: administering, to a subject, a composition comprising an extract from at least one selected from the group consisting of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix, Phlomis umbrosa TURCZ., and angelica.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the obesity is diet-induced obesity, neurogenic obesity, gastritis obesity, gluten obesity, obesity due to venous circulation disorder, or metabolic obesity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the metabolic obesity is a cause of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, or fatty liver,

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the extract is a crude extract obtained by extraction with at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of water and a straight or branched alcohol of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1a is a graph of blood total cholesterol levels as measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 1b is a graph of blood total triglyceride levels as measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 2a is a graph of abdominal subcutaneous fat levels as measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 2b is a graph of peri-renal fat levels as measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 3 is a photographic image of expression levels of triglyceride synthesis-related proteins as measured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0069] The present disclosure relates to a food composition including an extract from at least one selected from the group consisting of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix, Phlomis umbrosa TURCZ., and angelica for prevention or alleviation of obesity.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0070] A better understanding of the present disclosure may be obtained through the following examples which are set forth to illustrate, but are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

Example 1. Preparation of Crude Extract

[0071] The natural herbal materials Cynanchum wilfordii roots, Phlomis umbrosa roots, and Angelica gigas roots were mixed at a weight ratio of 1:1:1.08 and subjected to extraction by heating in 10 volumes of water at 95 to 105° C. for 8 hours. Following filtration, the filtrate thus obtained was lyophilized at −80° C. to afford a crude extract as a powder.

Experimental Example 1. Evaluation for Effect of Extract on Obesity-Induced Mice

[0072] 1-1. Preparation of Experimental Animal and Raising Condition

[0073] C57BL/J male mice, 5 weeks old, were purchased from Samtako Bio Korea and then acclimated to a raising room (temperature: 22±2° C., humidity: 50±5%, light condition: 12-hour light/dark cycle) for one week before use in experiments.

[0074] A normal group was fed with AIN-93G (Nor; Diet D10012G, Research Diets, Inc., New Brunswick, N.J., USA) while a high-fat diet group was supplied with 60% high-fat diet (HFD) purchased from Diet (Diet 12492, Research Diets, Inc., New Brunswick, N.J., USA).

[0075] 1-2. Administration of High-Fat Diet and Test Material to Mice

[0076] C57BL/J male mice were divided into six groups of 10 according to a randomized block design (mixed model of random and fixed factors).

[0077] As shown in Table 1, below, the normal diet was fed to a normal group, HFD to a control group, and HFD in combination with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract prepared in the Example to respective test groups.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Inducing No. of Group condition Test material Dose Sex animals Normal Normal diet Physiological saline 0 Male 10 (AIN-93G) Control High fat diet Physiological saline 0 Male 10 Example 100 Example 100 mg/kg 100 Male 10 Example 200 Example 200 mg/kg 200 Male 10 Example 400 Example 400 mg/kg 400 Male 10

[0078] To the normal and control groups, which were fed with the normal diet and HFD, respectively, but not with the test materials, physiological saline was orally administered at the same dose (0.2 ml/mouse/day).

[0079] One day before completion of the experiment, 60 mice in the six groups were fasted for 12 hours. On the last day of the experiment, the mice were anesthetized, and blood was collected from the orbit. Plasma was separated from the collected blood and stored in a freezer at −80° C. Adipose tissues and organs were excised from the mice and weighed.

[0080] 1-3. Weight Change, Food Intake, and Food Efficiency Ratio in Mice

[0081] While the extract of the Example was orally administered for eight weeks, the mice were monitored for weight change and food intake at a predetermined point of time every week. Examination was made of total weight gain and average daily weight gain (total body weight gain/days. After food intake (total food intake/days) was measured, the food efficiency ratio was calculated as follows. The results are summarized in Table 2, below.

Food Efficiency Ratio=Total weight gain/Total food intake×100  [Equation 1]

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Food efficiency ratio Inducing Food intake (body weight Group condition Weight gain (g) (g/day) gain/food intake) Normal Normal diet  4.50 ± 1.28 *** 2.44 ± 0.19 1.01 ± 0.48 (AIN-93G) Control High fat diet 12.66 ± 2.26 1.92 ± 0.51 3.88 ± 2.04 Example 100  9.38 ± 2.55* 1.73 ± 0.47 3.68 ± 1.82 Example 200  9.55 ± 2.64* 1.82 ± 0.47 3.69 ± 1.76 Example 400 10.87 ± 3.17 1.91 ± 0.45 3.80 ± 1.80 Comparative control with statistical significance *: p<0.05

[0082] The extract of the Example was assayed for anti-obesity effect on HFD-fed mice. A significant weight gain was observed in the HFD-fed control which weighed 12.66±2.26 g, compared to the normal group weighing 4.50±1.28 g (P<0.001).

[0083] The extract of the Example exhibited a weight gain of 9.38±2.55 at a dose of 100 mg/kg (P<0.05) and 9.55±2.64 at a dose of 200 mg/kg (P<0.05), with statistical significance.

[0084] The food intake was reduced in the HFD-fed high-fat diet groups, compared to the normal diet-fed normal group. However, no significant differences in food intake were observed among the HFD-fed groups.

Experimental Example 2. Serobiochemical Assay

[0085] The blood obtained after completion of the experiment was centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 20 minutes to separate serum for use in analyzing biochemical indices.

[0086] The separated serum was measured for lipid contents in terms of total cholesterol and triglyceride, and the measurements are summarized in Table 3 and depicted in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Inducing Total cholesterol Triglyceride Group condition (mg/dL) (mg/dL) Normal Normal diet  96.17 ± 2.75 *** 132.30 ± 2.63 *** (AIN-93G) Control High fat diet 139.08 ± 1.99 235.76 ± 7.96 Example 100 110.72 ± 2.57 ** 185.09 ± 4.22 * Example 200 114.63 ± 1.48 * 182.32 ± 5.53 * Example 400 122.43 ± 1.44 209.83 ± 4.23 Comparative control with statistical significance *: p<0.05, **: p<0.01

[0087] The blood total cholesterol level in each group was measured to be 96.17 mg/dL in the normal group and 139.1 mg/dL in the control, indicating that HFD increases the total cholesterol level.

[0088] When the extract of the Example was fed, the total cholesterol level was measured to be 110.7 mg/dL at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 114.6 mg/dL at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and 122.43 mg/dL at a dose of 400 mg/kg.

[0089] In particular, the groups fed with the extract of the Example at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg decreased in total cholesterol level, with significance.

[0090] The blood triglyceride level in each group was measured to be 132.3 mg/dL in the normal group and 235.8 mg/dL in the control, indicating that HFD increases the blood triglyceride level.

[0091] When the extract of the Example was fed, the blood triglyceride level was measured to be 185.1 mg/dL at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 182.3 mg/dL at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and 209.8 mg/dL at a dose of 400 mg/kg.

[0092] From the data, it was understood that the groups fed with the extract of the Example at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg decreased in blood triglyceride level, with significance.

Experimental Example 3. Fat Content in Mouse Adipose Tissue

[0093] To examine the effect of the extract of the Example on adipose tissues, peri-abdominal and peri-renal total fats were weighed. The anti-obesity effect on the adipose tissues was analyzed by measuring abdominal subcutaneous fat and the measurements are summarized in Table 4 and depicted in FIG. 2a. In addition, peri-renal total fat was weighed. The data are also summarized in Table 4 and depicted in FIG. 2b.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Inducing Peri-abdominal fat Peri-renal fat Group condition (g/100 g BW) (g/100 g BW) Normal Normal diet 1.89 ± 0.08 *** 0.68 ± 0.05 *** (AIN-93G) Control High fat diet 6.13 ± 0.10 2.73 ± 0.06 Example 100 5.04 ± 0.10 * 2.27 ± 0.02 * Example 200 5.06 ± 0.11 * 2.29 ± 0.03 * Example 400 5.83 ± 0.11 2.37 ± 0.03 Comparative control with statistical significance *: p<0.05

[0094] The peri-abdominal fat in each group was measured to be 6.13±0.10 (g/100 g BW) in the HFD-fed group which was about 2.13- to 5.67-fold higher than 1.89±0.08 (g/100 g BW) measured for the normal group.

[0095] When the extract of the Example was fed, the peri-abdominal fat was measured to be 5.04±0.10 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 5.06±0.11 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and 5.83±0.11 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 400 mg/kg.

[0096] From the data, it was understood that the groups fed with the extract of the Example at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg decreased in peri-abdominal fat level, with significance.

[0097] In addition, the peri-renal fat in each group was measured to be 2.73±0.06 (g/100 g BW) in the HFD-fed group which was higher than 0.68±0.05 (g/100 g BW) measured for the normal group.

[0098] When the extract of the Example was fed, the peri-abdominal fat was measured to be 2.27±0.02 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 2.29±0.03 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and 2.37±0.03 (g/100 g BW) at a dose of 400 mg/kg.

[0099] From the data, it was understood that the groups fed with the extract of the Example at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg decreased in peri-renal fat level, with significance.

Experimental Example 4. Assay for Expression of Triglyceride Synthesis-Related Protein

[0100] The extract of the Example was assayed for effect on the expression of triglyceride synthesis-related proteins in animal models of HFD-induced obesity. Adipose tissues were taken and subjected to Western blotting to measure expression levels of the obesity-related genes PPARr and GLUT4. As an internal control, the housekeeping gene actin, which is expressed in most types of cells, was also measured for expression level to normalize the protein expression. Expression results of the triglyceride synthesis-related proteins are depicted in FIG. 3.

[0101] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the expression levels of the triglyceride synthesis-related proteins were greatly increased in the HFD-fed control, compared to the normal group. However, the administration of the extract of the Example reduced the expression levels of the triglyceride synthesis-related proteins.

[0102] Inter alia, the groups fed with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of the extract of the Example exhibited similar expression levels to that in the normal group, with significance on the anti-obesity effect.

[0103] The data demonstrate that the extract of the Example is effective for alleviating metabolic diseases.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0104] The present disclosure relates to a composition for prevention, alleviation, or treatment of obesity.