Effects of bamboo extracts on glucose and lipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice

Bamboo leaves ( Sasa borealis ) have been used as a traditional medicine for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and stroke. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol and water extracts of bamboo leaves on glucose and lipid metabolism in obese mice. Sixty‐two male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 8 groups, Normal Fat Control (NFC) fed a normal fat diet, High Fat Control (HFC) fed high fat diet, High Fat containing 1% (HFE1), High Fat containing 3% (HFE3), and High Fat containing 5% of the Ethanol extract (HFE5), and High Fat containing 1% (HFW1), High Fat containing 3% (HFW3), and High Fat containing 5% of the Ethanol extract (HFE5), and fed each experimental diet for 12 weeks. The mice in the HFC gained weight but those the in HFE3, HFE5, and HFW5 lost weight. The amount of three adipose tissues in the above three groups were less than in HFC group. Fasting blood glucose concentration was not different among the experimental groups except in HFW3. However, during the oral glucose tolerance test, all treatment groups except HFE1 showed lower glucose concentrations at 30 and 60 min than HFC and at 120 min all treatment groups except HFE1 and HFW3 did also. Unexpectedly, however, plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were not different between the experimental groups. These results suggest that the bamboo leaves extracts may have effects anti‐obesity and hypoglycemic in obese mice.