Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of Rheum undulatum in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice through protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibition

Abstract

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is important in the regulationof metabolic diseases and has emerged as a promising signalingtarget. Previously, we reported the PTP1B inhibitory activityof Rheum undulatum (RU). In the present study, we investigatedthe metabolic regulatory effects of RU in a high-fat diet(HFD) model. RU treatment significantly blocked body weightgain, which was accompanied by a reduction of feed efficiency.In addition, it led to a reduction of liver weight mediated by overexpressionof PPARα and CPT1 in the liver, and an increase in theexpression of adiponectin, aP2, and UCP3 in adipose tissue responsiblefor the reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol levels.Chrysophanol and physcion from RU significantly inhibitedPTP1B activity and strongly enhanced insulin sensitivity.Altogether, our findings strongly suggest that 2 compounds arenovel PTP1B inhibitors and might be considered as anti-obesityagents that are effective for suppressing body weight gain and improvinglipid homeostasis. [BMB reports 2012; 45(3): 141-146]

Keywords

• Chrysophanol
• Obesity
• Physcion
• PTP1B
• Rheum undulatum