A water-alcohol extract of Citrus grandis whole fruits has beneficial metabolic effects in the obese Zucker rats fed with high fat/high cholesterol diet

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 138; no. 2-3; pp. 1392 - 1399
• Main Authors: Raasmaja, Atso, Lecklin, Anne, Li, Xiang Ming, Zou, Jianqiang, Zhu, Guo-Guang, Laakso, Into, Hiltunen, Raimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Cholesterol - metabolism; Citrus - chemistry; Citrus grandis; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Energy metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food industries; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - blood; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperlipidemia; Leptin - blood; Male; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Rats; Rats, Zucker; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Zucker rats; Citrus grandis; Energy metabolism; Hypercholesterolemia; Zucker rats; Hyperlipidemia; Water; Rat; Citrus fruit; Rutaceae; Lipids; Alcohol; Extract; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Obesity; Fruit; Rodentia; Cholesterol; Feeding; Citrus; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Diet; Animal; Fat; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.09.140

► A Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck var. tomentosa hort. whole fruit extract was prepared. ► The citrus extract changed the levels of metabolic hormones in obese Zucker rats. ► Cholesterol and glucose levels were also slightly but not systematically decreased. ► The prepared C. grandis extract may affect the regulation of energy metabolism. ► The exact target mechanisms of the described citrus-effects need to be clarified. Epidemiological studies suggest that citrus fruits and compounds such as flavonoids, limonoids and pectins have health promoting effects. Our aim was to study the effects of Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck var. tomentosa hort. fruit extract on the energy metabolism. A whole fruit powder from dry water and alcohol extracts of C. grandis containing 19% naringin flavonoid was prepared. The effects of the citrus extract were followed in the obese Zucker rats fed with the HFD. The circulatory levels of GLP-1 decreased significantly by the extract in comparison to the HFD group, whereas the decreased ghrelin levels were reversed. The levels of PYY were decreased in all HFD groups. The leptin amounts decreased but not significantly whereas insulin and amylin were unchanged. The cholesterol and glucose levels were somewhat but not systematically improved in the HFD fed rats. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and their mechanisms.