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Lemon balm extract causes potent antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in insulin‐resistant obese mice
Author(s) -
Weidner Christopher,
Wowro Sylvia J.,
Freiwald Anja,
Kodelja Vitam,
AbdelAziz Heba,
Kelber Olaf,
Sauer Sascha
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201300477
Subject(s) - dyslipidemia , insulin resistance , type 2 diabetes , nutraceutical , pharmacology , diabetes mellitus , lipid metabolism , medicine , endocrinology , cholesterol , chemistry , biochemistry
Over the last decades polyetiological metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have emerged as a global epidemic. Efficient strategies for prevention and treatment include dietary intervention and the development of validated nutraceuticals. Safe extracts of edible plants provide a resource of structurally diverse molecules that can effectively interfere with multifactorial diseases. In this study, we describe the application of ethanolic lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) leaves extract for the treatment of insulin‐resistance and dyslipidemia in mice. We show that lemon balm extract ( LBE ) activates the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors ( PPAR s), which have key roles in the regulation of whole body glucose and lipid metabolism. Application of LBE (0.6 mg/mL) to human primary adipocytes resulted in specific peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor target gene expression. LBE treatment of insulin‐resistant high‐fat diet‐fed C 57 BL /6 mice (200 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks considerably reduced hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, plasma triacylglycerol, nonesterified fatty acids and LDL/VLDL cholesterol levels. Taken together, ethanolic lemon balm extract can potentially be used to prevent or concomitantly treat type 2 diabetes and associated disorders such as dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia.