Plantago maxima leaves extract inhibits adipogenic action of a high-fat diet in female Wistar rats

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 831 - 842
• Main Authors: Tinkov, Alexey A., Nemereshina, Olga N., Popova, Elizaveta V., Polyakova, Valentina S., Gritsenko, Viktor A., Nikonorov, Alexandr A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adipogenesis; Adipokines - blood; Adipokines - metabolism; Adiposity; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - chemistry; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colon - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Female; Gram-Negative Bacteria - growth & development; Gram-Negative Bacteria - isolation & purification; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Intra-Abdominal Fat - pathology; Jejunum - microbiology; Nutrition; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - microbiology; Obesity - pathology; Obesity - prevention & control; Original Contribution; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plantago - chemistry; Rats, Wistar; Russia; Russia; Oxidative stress; Excessive adiposity; Inflammation; Phytochemicals; Endocrine dysfunction
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-013-0587-6

Purpose The primary objective of this study is to investigate the content of biologically active compounds producing an antioxidant effect in Plantago maxima and their influence on main mechanisms of dietary obesity development. Methods Biologically active compounds in P. maxima were tested using paper chromatography. In in vivo experiment, high-fat-fed Wistar rats obtained P. maxima water extract for 3 months. Morphometric parameters, weight gain, serum adipokines, and cytokines, as well as oxidative stress biomarkers in rats’ tissues were evaluated. Gut microflora was also examined. Results Plantago maxima leaves used in the experiment contained significant amount of flavonoids, iridoids, phenol carboxylic acids, and tannins and ascorbic acid. Our in vivo experiment data demonstrate that P. maxima water extract prevents excessive adiposity in a diet-induced model. P. maxima consumption reduced serum leptin (twofold), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (sevenfold), tumor-necrosis factor-α (25 %), and interleukine-6 (26 %) levels. P. maxima water extract decreased adipose tissue oxidative stress biomarkers in rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, increased bacterial growth in the diet-induced obesity model was reversed by the P. maxima extract treatment. Conclusion Plantago maxima water extract possessed antiadipogenic, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant activity, and normalized gut microflora in a rat model of diet-induced excessive adiposity due to a high content of biologically active compounds.