Molecules 2016, 21(11), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21111522
CST, an Herbal Formula, Exerts Anti-Obesity Effects through Brain-Gut-Adipose Tissue Axis Modulation in High-Fat Diet Fed Mice
AbuZar Ansari 1, Shambhunath Bose 2, Mukesh Kumar Yadav 3, Jing-Hua Wang 1
, Yun-Kyung Song 4, Seong-Gyu Ko 5 and Hojun Kim 1,*
, Yun-Kyung Song 4, Seong-Gyu Ko 5 and Hojun Kim 1,*
1
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, 814-Siksa-dong, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do 10326, South Korea
2
NosQuest, 463-400 USPACE 1A-1103, Daewang Pangyoro 660, Bundanggu, Seongnamsi, Gyeonggi-do 13494, South Korea
3
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery & Institute for Medical Device Clinical Trials, College of Medicine, Korea University, 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul 08308, South Korea
4
Department of Korean Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 22318, South Korea
5
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul 02453, South Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editors: Min-Hsiung Pan and Filomena Conforti
Received: 7 September 2016 / Revised: 1 November 2016 / Accepted: 9 November 2016 / Published: 11 November 2016
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Anti-Obesity Therapy)
Abstract
The brain, gut, and adipose tissue interact to control metabolic pathways, and impairment in the brain-gut-adipose axis can lead to metabolic disorders, including obesity. Chowiseungcheng-tang (CST), a herbal formulation, is frequently used to treat metabolic disorders. Here, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of CST and its link with brain-gut-adipose axis using C57BL/6J mice as a model. The animals were provided with a normal research diet (NRD) or high-fat diet (HFD) in absence or presence of CST or orlistat (ORL) for 12 weeks. CST had a significant anti-obesity effect on a number of vital metabolic and obesity-related parameters in HFD-fed mice. CST significantly decreased the expression levels of genes encoding obesity-promoting neuropeptides (agouti-related peptide, neuropeptide Y), and increased the mRNA levels of obesity-suppressing neuropeptides (proopiomelanocortin, cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript) in the hypothalamus. CST also effectively decreased the expression level of gene encoding obesity-promoting adipokine (retinol-binding protein-4) and increased the mRNA level of obesity-suppressing adipokine (adiponectin) in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Additionally, CST altered the gut microbial composition in HFD groups, a phenomenon strongly associated with key metabolic parameters, neuropeptides, and adipokines. Our findings reveal that the anti-obesity impact of CST is mediated through modulation of metabolism-related neuropeptides, adipokines, and gut microbial composition. View Full-TextKeywords:
herb; chowiseungcheng-tang; obesity; neuropeptide; adipokine; gut microbiota; brain-gut-adipose tissue axis
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Ansari, A.; Bose, S.; Yadav, M.K.; Wang, J.-H.; Song, Y.-K.; Ko, S.-G.; Kim, H. CST, an Herbal Formula, Exerts Anti-Obesity Effects through Brain-Gut-Adipose Tissue Axis Modulation in High-Fat Diet Fed Mice. Molecules 2016, 21, 1522.
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