Investigation of the anti-obesity action of licorice flavonoid oil in diet-induced obese rats

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry biotechnology, and biochemistry, 2008-12, Vol.72 (12), p.3225-3231
• Main Authors: Kamisoyama, H.(Kobe Univ. (Japan)), Honda, K, Tominaga, Y, Yokota, S, Hasegawa, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen - pathology; Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase - antagonists & inhibitors; acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC); acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (ACD); Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - chemistry; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; cardiovascular disease; Diet; Eating - drug effects; fatty acid synthase (FAS); Fatty Acid Synthases - antagonists & inhibitors; Fatty Acids - biosynthesis; FLAVONOIDE; FLAVONOIDES; FLAVONOIDS; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycyrrhiza - chemistry; GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA; insulin; LIQUORICE; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Male; Obesity - chemically induced; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - pathology; Obesity - prevention & control; OVERWEIGHT; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; RAT; RATA; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; REGALIZ; REGLISSE; SOBREPESO; SURPOIDS; Triglycerides - blood; Triglycerides - metabolism; VIA BIOQUIMICA DEL METABOLISMO; VOIE BIOCHIMIQUE DU METABOLISME
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.80469

Licorice flavonoid oil (LFO), which contains hydro- phobic flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne, is a new ingredient for functional foods. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity action of LFO in diet-induced obese rats. The addition of 2% LFO in a high-fat diet significantly decreased the weight of abdominal adipose tissue and the levels of hepatic and plasma triglycerides. We found that the enzymatic activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase, the rate-limiting enzymes in the fatty acid synthetic pathway, were significantly decreased by LFO, whereas the enzymatic activity of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the fatty acid oxidative pathway, was significantly increased. All our findings suggest that the anti-obesity action of LFO is controlled by regulation of the rate-limiting enzymes in the fatty acid synthetic and oxidative pathways in the liver.