Anti-obesity effects of black ginseng extract in high fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Black ginseng is produced by a repeated steaming process. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of black ginseng ethanol extract (BG-EE) in high fat (HF) diet-fed mice. Two groups were fed either a normal control (NC) diet or a HF diet (45% kcal fat). The other three groups were given a HF diet supplemented with 1% BG-EE, 3% BG-EE, and 5% BG-EE for 12 wk. The anti-obesity effects of the BG-EE supplement on body weight, the development of fat mass, and lipid mechanisms were assessed in obese mice. HF-induced hyperlipidemia, fat accumulation in the liver, and white adipose tissues were reduced after BG-EE supplementation. Total fecal weight and the amount of fecal fat excretion also were increased after BG-EE supplementation. These results suggest that BG-EE may be useful to ameliorate HF-induced obesity through the strong inhibition of fat digestion.

Keywords: Black ginseng; High fat diet; Hyperlipidemia; Obesity; Panax ginseng.

Fig. 1.. Effects of black ginseng ethanol extract (BG-EE) on body weight in high fat (HF) diet-fed mice. Experimental mice were fed normal control (NC), HF, and HF supplemented with 1%, 3%, or 5% BG-EE for 12 wk. Values are expressed as mean±SD (n=8). *p<0.05, **p<0.01 vs. control group.

Fig. 2.. Effects of black ginseng ethanol extract (BG-EE) on white adipose tissue weight in mice fed with 45% kcal fat diet for 12 wk. Values are expressed as mean±SD (n=8). Different superscripts in the same bar chat indicate significant differences between the groups (p<0.05). NC, normal control; HF, high fat diet.

Fig. 3.. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained photomicrographs showing the liver (×200). (A) normal control, (B) high fat group, (C) 5% black ginseng ethanol extract group. Bar=50 μm. Fat accumulation, indicated by the arrowhead, in the form of large fat droplet is present in liver of mice fed a high fat diet.