Ginseng berry extract enhances metformin efficacy against obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice fed high-fat diet through increase of metformin uptake in liver

• Published in: Journal of functional foods 2019-11, Vol.62, p.103551, Article 103551
• Main Authors: Chae, Hee-Sung, You, Byoung Hon, Choi, Junjeong, Chin, Young-Won, Kim, Hojun, Choi, Han Seok, Choi, Young Hee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ginseng berry extract; Hepatic steatosis; High-fat diet; Metformin; Obesity; Organic cation transporter
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2019.103551

In GBE plus metformin treatment, GBE plus metformin showed the additive efficacy against obesity, hepatic steatosis and hyperglycemia! [Display omitted] •GBE ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice fed high-fat diet.•GBE increased organic cation transporter-mediated metformin uptake in liver.•GBE plus metformin additively ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis.•GBE itself and GBE plus metformin could be useful to regulate metabolic disorders. Ginseng berry extract contains plenty of ginsenosides showing anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic activities. Regarding that long-term intakes of herbal products to control metabolic disorders as popular alternatives have become popular, ginseng berry extract plus metformin is an attractive item for long-term glycemic control. Herein, we investigated the effect of ginseng berry extract (GBE) or its combination with metformin against obesity and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet fed mice. GBE altered abnormal features (e.g. body weight, serum profiles, hepatic steatosis/inflammation and fat mass). Concomitantly, GBE increased mRNA levels of adiponectin and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein. All these changes were observed in metformin alone and GBE plus metformin. Moreover, in GBE plus metformin intake, GBE increased organic cation transporter-mediated metformin uptake in liver and mRNA of AMP-activated protein kinase together, which additively ameliorated obesity and hepatic steatosis. Therefore, GBE itself and GBE plus metformin could be useful to regulate metabolic disorders.