본 연구에서는 유전성 비만 마우스를 이용하여 아프리칸 망고 추출물의 항비만 효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 기존의 연구내용을 아프리칸 망고 추출물의 섭취 농도를 식이의 1%와 2%로 정하고, AIN93G diet에 아프리칸 망고 추출물 분말을 1%와 2% 섞어 diet를 제작하였다. 실험 식이를 8주간 제공한 후 실험 종료 시 실험군들의 체중 변화는 ob/ob군에 비해 유의적으로 감소하였다. 실험동물의 간 및 지방조직의 무게를 측정한 결과 간의 무게와 지방조직의 무게가 ob/ob군에 비해 유의적으로 감소하였다. 실험동물의 혈청 지질 함량은 TG, TC, LDL-콜레스테롤이 ob/ob군에 비해 감소하였으나 유의성은 나타나지 않았고, HDL-콜레스테롤은 고농도 섭취 시 ob/ob군에 비해 유의적으로 증가하였다. Adiponectin 유전자의 발현은 ob/ob군이 가장 낮았고, 실험식이 섭취군들은 ob/ob군에 비해 유의적으로 증가하였다. Adipogenic enzyme과 transcription factor인 FAS, LPL, PPAR-γ, C/EBP, SREBP 유전자의 발현은 ob/ob군이 가장 높게 나타났고, 실험식이 섭취군들은 ob/ob군에 비해 유의적으로 낮았다. 전반적으로 본 실험에서는 아프리칸 망고 추출물이 leptin 유전자가 결핍된 비만 동물 모델에서 체중 감소 및 혈청 지질 함량을 개선시켜 주는 효과가 있고, adipogenic enzyme과 transcription factor 조절에 유익한 효과가 나타났다. 이러한 결과로부터 아프리칸 망고 추출물이 항비만효과를 가진 천연 기능성 식품의 개발에 있어 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 기대할 수 있다.
This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of African mango (Irvingia gabonesis, IGOB 131™) extract in leptin-deficient obese mice. Experimental groups were treated with two different doses of IGOB 131™ (1% and 2% in each AIN93G supplement) for 8 weeks. Treatment of obese mice with both low and high dose of IGOB 131™ significantly reduced body weight gain by 10.9% and 13.3%, respectively, compared to control obese mice. Subcutaneous adipose tissue weight of mice was significantly reduced by 18% by low-dose and 23% by high-dose supplementation. This result was supported by micro-CT analysis around the abdominal regions of mice, indicating that the adipose tissue area and volume were significantly reduced by treatment with IGOB 131™. Serum levels of triglycerides in the low- and high-dose groups were reduced by 36.5% and 43.8%, respectively, upon treatment with IGOB 131™, whereas total cholesterol levels were reduced by 31.8% and 35.4%. Interestingly, the serum LDL level decreased upon treatment with IGOB 131™ while the serum level of HDL dramatically increased upon high-dose treatment with IGOB 131™, resulting in a significant reduction in the LDL to HDL ratio of 59.2%. These results were supported by the expression levels of enzymes and proteins related to lipid metabolism assessed by real-time PCR. There was a significant increase of in adiponectin expression as well as significant decreases in the expression of FAS, LPL, and lipid regulatory transcription factors such as PPAR-γ, C/EBP, and SREBP upon both low- and high-dose IGOB 131™ treatment. However, there was no statistical difference between low- and high-dose treatments. These results suggest that IGOB 131™ is able to regulate the serum lipid profiles by reducing triglyceride and increasing HDL levels as well as regulate expression of lipid metabolic factors, resulting in reduction of a weight gain in leptin-deficient obese mice.