Polygonatum stenophyllum improves menopausal obesity via regulation of lipolysis-related enzymes

Menopausal women are associated with an increase in obesity accompanying changes in the body's condition and composition. Polygonatum stenophyllum (PS) rhizome, which is a traditional herbal remedy, has been used to treat various diseases including obesity. However, the effect of PS on menopausal obesity remains unclear. Female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and fed on high fat diet (HFD) to induce menopausal obesity. Aqueous extract of PS of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg was orally administrated for 6 weeks after 7 weeks of induction. The weights of body, uterine, and ovarian fat were investigated. Histological analysis was performed to monitor the changes of liver and fat. In addition, lipid profiles were measured in serum and the expression of lipolysis-related enzymes was analyzed in uterine tissues. PS significantly decreased the weights of body and ovarian fat and increased the uterine weight compared to control group. Administration of PS significantly decreased the adipocyte diameter and the lipid droplets within the hepatocytes. In addition, PS-treated mice had lower levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol than control mice. The expression of lipolysis-related genes, including adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), was increased in PS-treated groups. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PS might have efficacy on menopausal obesity by activating ATGL and HSL.