Effect of ShanZha, a Chinese herbal product, on obesity and dyslipidemia in hamsters receiving high-fat diet

Aim: The present study is designed to investigate the effect of ShanZha (Crataegus pinnatifida) on obesity or dyslipidemia induced by high-fat diet in hamsters and characterize the role of PPAR alpha in this action of ShanZha. Materials and methods: We induced dyslipidemia and obesity in hamsters using high-fat diet and treated hamsters with ShanZha or vehicle for 7 days. We measured the body weight, adipose tissue weights, and food intake of hamsters. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined at the beginning and end of this treatment. Effect of ShanZha on adipogenesis was examined in vitro and change of PPAR alpha was analyzed using Western blot. Results: The food intake, body weights, and weights of both brown and white adipose tissues were markedly reduced in hamsters receiving ShanZha as compared with the vehicle-treated control. Plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased by this ShanZha treatment while HDL-C was elevated. The effects of ShanZha were reversed by the combined treatment with PPAR alpha antagonist, MK886. ShanZha inhibited the fat droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was abolished by MK886. Western blot results showed activation of PPAR alpha by ShanZha in hamster adipose tissue. Conclusion: We suggest that ShanZha could activate PPAR alpha to improve dyslipidemia or obesity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.