Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Obese Human Subjects and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a main cause of insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver diseases. This study evaluated radix () as a potential treatment option for obesity and obesity-induced IR in obese human and high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese mice.

METHODS

In the human study, we analyzed the body weight change of 14 patients who took a single dose of 6 g of powder. In the animal study, male mice were divided into three groups: normal chow, HFD, and (high-fat diet and 100 mg/Kg once per week). Body weight, epididymal fat pad weight, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and oral glucose tolerance test were measured. Also, macrophage infiltration and expression of CD68, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) , interferon- (IFN-) , and interleukin- (IL-) 6 genes in the liver and adipose tissue were analyzed.

RESULTS

The human study showed that has a potential effect on body weight loss. In the in vivo study, body weight, epididymal fat weight, glucose level, IR, expression of CD68, TNF-, IFN-r, and IL-6 genes, and macrophages in liver and adipose tissue were significantly reduced by .

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that attenuates obesity and insulin resistance via anti-inflammatory effects.