Phillyrin lowers body weight in obese mice via the modulation of PPAR<beta>/<delta>-ANGPTL 4 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Previous investigations have shown that the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor beta/delta (PPAR<beta>/<delta>)-angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) pathways may be a new pharmacologic target for treatment of obesity. The present study was conducted to test the effect of phillyrin, ‎a glucoside, on obesity in mice.

METHOD: Fifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): control group (C57BL/6J mice), obese mice group, two groups of obese mice treated with phillyrin (15 or 45mg/kg/day), one group of obese mice treated with PPAR<beta>/<delta> agonist GW0742 (3mg/kg/day). Twelve weeks after treatment, body weight, liver weight, fat weight, lipid levels in the liver, serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-<alpha>(TNF-<alpha>), leptin, and insulin, expression of PPAR<beta>/<delta>, ANGPTL4, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were determined.

RESULTS: Treatment with phillyrin (15 or 45mg/kg) significantly decreased body weight, liver weight, fat weight, hepatic total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and triglyceride concentrations, serum levels of TNF-<alpha>, leptin, and insulin concomitantly with up-regulated expression of PPAR<beta>/<delta>, ANGPTL4, and p-AMPK-<alpha>. In addition, GW0742 has similar effect of phillyrin.

CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that phillyrin could regulate the PPAR<beta>/<delta>-ANGPTL 4 pathway to lower body weight in obese C57BL/6J mice.