[Effects of Mori Folium extract on diet-induced obesity mechanism in rats]

To study the anti-obesity effect of Mori Folium extract on diet-induced obesity(DIO) and to explore the preliminary mechanism in rats. DIO rat models were established by high glucose and high fat diet for 8 weeks. Then high(10 mg•kg⁻¹) and low(5 mg•kg⁻¹) does Mori Folium extracts were given by intragastric administration for 13 weeks. After the last administration, their body weight, 24 h food intake, water intake, Lee's index, liver/body mass index, and fat/body mass index were determined. The levels of lipoprotein lipase(LPL), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha(C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARγ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha(p-AMPKα), C/EBPα and PPARγ expression levels in adipose tissues were detected by Western blot. The hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE) was used to observe the histopathological changes of adipose tissues. The results showed that both high dose and low dose Mori Folium extract can decrease body weight, Lee's index, renal fat/body mass ratio and testicle fat/body mass ratio, and the high dose group could decrease the total fat/body mass ratio. Both high dose and low dose groups had no significant effect on the food intake and water intake; however, they could decrease levels of LPL in fat, up-regulate p-AMPKα protein expression, down-regulate C/EBPα and PPARγ protein expression, and reduce fat cell volume. In conclusion, Mori Folium extract had a slimming effect on DIO rats, and its mechanism may be associated with up-regulating the expression of p-AMPKα, down-regulating the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα and LPL, inhibiting the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature fat cells, and reducing the volume of fat cells.