Erchen Decoction Ameliorates the Metabolic Abnormalities of High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats.

OBJECTIVE

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates chemical energy to protect against obesity. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of Erchen decoction on the lipolysis and thermogenesis function of BAT in high-fat diet-fed rats.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, which were fed a control diet (C) or a high-fat diet (HF), and the latter was administered with high and low doses of Erchen decoction by gavage once a day, for 12 weeks. Body weight, the serum lipid profile, serum glucose, and insulin levels of the rats were evaluated. In addition, the phosphorylation and protein and mRNA expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator- (PGC-) 1, and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) in BAT were measured by immunoblotting and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Erchen decoction administration decreased body weight gain and ameliorated the abnormal lipid profile and insulin resistance index of the high-fat diet-fed rats. In addition, the expression of p-AMPK and ATGL in the was significantly increased by Erchen decoction. Erchen decoction also increased the protein and mRNA expression of PGC-1 and UCP-1 in BAT.

CONCLUSION

Erchen decoction ameliorates the metabolic abnormalities of high-fat diet-fed rats, at least in part activation of lipolysis and thermogenesis in BAT.