Effect of diets with Job's tears and Cudrania tricuspidata leaf mixed-powder supplements on body fat and serum lipid levels in rats fed a high-fat diet

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of diets with a supplement of Job's tears (JT) and Cudrania tricuspidata leaf (CTL) powder as a functional food ingredient on obesity and lipid profiles in diet-induced obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (D12492, 45 kcal fat) for 5 weeks during the first phase. In the second phase, which lasted 5 weeks, the rats were divided into four experimental groups. The groups were a high-fat diet group as a control (HFD), a high-fat diet with 10% JT powder supplement group (JT-10), a 10% CTL powder supplement group (CTL-10), and a 20% JT and CTL 1:1 mixed-powder supplement group (MIX-20). The adipose tissue (RFP, EFP) weights were significantly decreased in the CTL-10 and MIX-20 groups than in the HFD group (p<0.05). The fecal weight produced by the MIX-20 group was highest among all experimental groups (p<0.05), and it was significantly increased during the second phase compared to the first phase (p<0.05). The serum total cholesterol content was significantly decreased in the CTL-10 and MIX-20 groups, and the LDL-cholesterol content was significantly low in the JT-10 and MIX-20 groups than in the HFD group (p<0.05). The blood glucose levels were significantly decreased in all experimental diet supplement groups than in the HFD group (p<0.05). The findings show that a diet of mixed JT and CTL could improve lipid metabolism.