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Int J Med Sci 2017; 14(9):896-901. doi:10.7150/ijms.19933 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Amelioration of estrogen-deficiency-induced obesity by Ocimum gratissimum

Pei-Yu Chao^1*, Tsay-I Chiang^2,3*, I-Chang Chang^3,4, Fang-Ling Tsai⁵, Hsueh-Hui Lee⁶, Kuanghui Hsieh⁶, Yung-Wei Chiu^7,8, Te-Jen Lai^7,9, Jer-Yuh Liu^5,10✉, Li-Sung Hsu^11,12✉, Yang-Chia Shih^13✉

1. Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
2. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine & Nursing, HungKuang University, Taichung, Taiwan
3. School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
5. Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
6. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
7. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
8. Emergency department and center of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung Taiwan
9. Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
10. Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung Taiwan
11. Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
12. Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
13. Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
^* These authors contributed equally to this work.

✉ Corresponding authors: Jer-Yuh Liu PhD., Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, College of Medical, China Medical University, No 6, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. Tel: +886-4-22052121 ext 7932; Fax: +886-4-22347028. E-mail: jylcmu.edu.tw; Li-Sung Hsu, Ph.D., Institutes of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jian-Guo N. Road, Taichung 40201, Taiwan. Tel: +886-4-24730022 ext. 11682, Fax: +886-4-23248195, E-mail: lshsu405com.tw, Yang-Chia Shih: Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, No. 500, Liufeng Rd., Wufeng, Taichung 41354, Taiwan. Tel: +886-4-23323456 ext. 1862, E-mail: angelashihedu.tw. More

Abstract

Objectives: Menopausal transition in women initiates with declining estrogen levels and is followed by significant changes in their physiological characteristics. These changes often lead to medical conditions, such as obesity, which is correlated with chronic low-grade/subclinical inflammation. Ocimum gratissimum L. is a food spice or traditional herb in many countries; the plant is rich in antioxidants, which possess anti-inflammation activities and multitude of other therapeutic functions.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated effects of O. gratissimum extract (OGE) in preventing obesity by using ovariectomized (OVX) animal models to mimic menopausal women.

Methods: OVX rats showed increase in body weight and in adipocyte size in perigonadal adipose tissue (p <0.05) and decrease in uterus weight. By contrast, OGE (0.2 mg/ml) significantly reduced body weight gain and adipocyte in OVX rats and showed insignificant changes in uterus weight. Further investigation indicated that OGE exerted no influence on levels of dorsal fat, serum total cholesterol, and serum triacylglycerol and on serum biochemical factors, calcium, phosphorus, and glucose.

Conclusion: These findings suggested that OGE dietary supplements may be useful in controlling body weight of menopausal women.

Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum, obesity, ovariectomized animal models

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