morin and Obesity

Morin and PUFAs are bioactive compounds provided by the diet, with multiple biological activities, among which are the modulation of inflammation in various chronic diseases. The effect of supplementation with Morin, PUFAs, and the mixture of both on the levels of mRNA expression of the Nlrp3 inflammasome as well as genes associated with inflammation and lipid metabolism, in an obesity model through a high-fat diet, during 8 weeks of administration were evaluated. The three treatments negatively regulated the expression of Nlrp3 mRNA. Morin showed a better effect by modulating downwards the expression of the mRNA of Il-18, Casp-1, Pparγ, and Serbp-1c, in addition to positively modulating the expression of the mRNA of Ppar-α, as well as Adiponectin. The combined treatment of Morin plus the PUFAs maintained similar levels under normal conditions for the mRNA expression of Tlr4 and Ucp2.

Topics: Diet, High-Fat; Flavonoids; Humans; Inflammasomes; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Obesity; RNA, Messenger

Morin is a natural bioflavonoid that exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of morin on insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Obesity was induced in ICR mice by feeding a HFD (60 % kcal from fat) for 12 weeks. After the first 6 weeks, obese mice were treated with morin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) once daily for further 6 weeks. Blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were then measured. Liver was excised, subjected to histopathology, glycogen determination, and gene and protein expression analysis. Morin administration reduced blood glucose, serum insulin, leptin, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels and increased serum adiponectin levels. Moreover, there was a reduction in serum lipid and liver triglyceride levels. Liver histology indicated that morin limited accumulation of lipid droplets. Interestingly, morin reduced expression of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and up-regulated hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) expression. Morin also stimulated glycogen storage and suppressed phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) protein expression. Furthermore, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) expression were increased after morin treatment. These findings indicate that morin has a positive effect in the HFD-induced obesity condition by suppressing lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress activities.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Anti-Obesity Agents; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Diet, High-Fat; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation; Gluconeogenesis; Hyperglycemia; Hyperinsulinism; Hyperlipidemias; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipogenesis; Liver; Male; Mice, Inbred ICR; Obesity; Oxidative Stress; Weight Gain

A new benzylated and prenylated flavonone, cudracuspiflavanone A (17) were isolated from the roots of Cudrania tricuspidata (Moraceae), together with two chromones (1-2) and fourteen flavonoids (3-16). The structures of isolated compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration was also defined by CD analysis. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 14 and 15 inhibited pancreatic lipase activity with an IC50 value of 9.0 and 6.5 μM, respectively.

Topics: Biological Products; Flavonoids; Lipase; Molecular Structure; Moraceae; Obesity; Pancreas; Plant Extracts