Effect of Pumpkin, Corn Silk, Adzuki Bean, and Their Mixture on Weight Control and Antioxidant Activities in High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Rats

호박즙, 옥수수수염차, 팥차 및 혼합물이 식이유도 비만동물모델에서 체중과 항산화 활성에 미치는 영향

Pumpkin juice (PJ), corn silk tea (CT), and adzuki bean tea (AT) have long been used for treatment of obesity in Korea. This study investigated the efficacy of PJ, CT, AT, and their mixture (PCA) on alteration of body weight and antioxidant metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. After being fed HFD for 4 weeks, SD rats were divided into six groups fed a normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD+PJ [250 mg/kg body weight (BW)], HFD+CT (250 mg/kg BW), HFD+AT (250 mg/kg BW), and HFD+PCA (PJ : CT : AT=1:1:1, 250 mg/kg BW) for another 9 weeks. HFD consumption resulted in total lipid, triglyceride, and total cholesterol accumulation in adipose tissue, which was reduced by administration of PJ, CT, AT, or PCA. The plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity value and hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased compared to the HFD group. The liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances was significantly lower in the PCA group than the HFD group. HFD-induced DNA damage in hepatocytes, as measured by comet assay, decreased in the PJ, AT, and PCA-supplemented groups. The PCA group exerted a superior antigenotoxic effect compared to other treatments. PCA recovered the concentration of plasma adiponectin, which was reduced by HFD. Adipocyte surface area (%) was significantly higher in the HFD group than the ND group, significantly lower in the PJ and PCA groups than the HFD group, and not significantly different compared with the ND group. Based on the results, supplementation of PJ, CT, AT, and PCA exhibited lipid-lowering effects in adipocytes of HFD-induced obese rats. Furthermore, the PCA group exhibited superior antioxidant activity in all treated groups. This study suggests that a mixed beverage consisting of PJ, CT, and AT may be a significant source of natural antioxidants, which might be helpful in preventing obesity and progress of various oxidative stresses induced by HFD.

4주간 식이로 유도된 비만 동물에서 호박즙(250 mg/kg BW), 옥수수수염차(250 mg/kg BW), 팥차(250 mg/kg BW)와 이들 혼합음료(호박즙 분말 : 옥수수수염차 분말 : 팥차 분말, 1:1:1, 250 mg/kg BW)를 9주간 투여하여 그 효능을 알아본 결과 호박즙, 옥수수수염차, 팥차 개별 섭취 시 체중감소 효과는 보였으나 그 기전은 본 연구에서 규명하지 못하였다. 그러나 혼합음료 섭취군에서는 지방조직 무게의 유의적 감소로 인한 체중 저하 효능을 확인할 수 있었다. 부고환지방조직의 표면적은 고지방식이섭취군(HFD)군에 비해 고지방식이+혼합음료섭취군(HFD+PCA)군에서 유의적으로 감소하였으며, HFD+PCA군의 아디포넥틴은 HFD군에 비해 유의적으로 증가하였다. 음료섭취군들 중 고지방식이+혼합음료섭취군(HFD+PCA)은 고지방식이섭취군(HFD)보다 ORAC value가 증가하였고, GSH-Px의 간 항산화 효소에서도 HFD군보다 HFD+PCA군이 유의적으로 증가하였다. 또한, HFD+PCA군은 고지방식이에 의한 지질과산화물 생성을 유의적으로 감소시켰으며, 비만으로 인한 산화적 스트레스에 따른 DNA 손상을 현저히 낮추었다. 따라서 산화적 스트레스에 의해 유도되는 비만 치료에 호박즙, 옥수수수염차, 팥차를 각각 섭취하기보다는 이들 세 가지를 동일한 비율로 혼합 섭취 시 각각의 항산화 효능의 상승작용에 의한 항비만 효과가 현저하게 나타낼 것으로 생각한다.