Cordyceps militaris alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ob/ob mice.
- Author:
Ha Neul CHOI
1
;
Yang Hee JANG
;
Min Joo KIM
;
Min Jeong SEO
;
Byoung Won KANG
;
Yong Kee JEONG
;
Jung In KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Cordyceps militaris; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); triglyceride; antioxidant; ob/ob mice
- MeSH: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Blood Glucose; Cordyceps*; Cytokines; Diet; Fatty Liver*; Glutathione; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-6; Male; Mice*; Mice, Obese; Public Health; Triglycerides; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Water
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice 2014;8(2):172-176
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an important public health problem as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have become epidemic. In this study we investigated the protective effect of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against NAFLD in an obese mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 1% C. militaris water extract for 10 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Hepatic levels of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide were determined. RESULTS: Consumption of C. militaris significantly decreased serum glucose, as well as homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in ob/ob mice. In addition to lowering serum FFA levels, C. militaris also significantly decreased hepatic total lipids and triglyceride contents. Serum ALT activities and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were reduced by C. militaris. Consumption of C. militaris increased hepatic GSH and reduced lipid peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that C. militaris can exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and improving hepatic antioxidant status in ob/ob mice.
