Glossy privet fruit (Ligustrum lucidum Ait, GPF) is a common edible plant in Asian countries. It is used as a herb for traditional Chinese medicine. It has been reported that this fruit possesses anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory,hepatoprotective, and anti-aging activities. S-propyl- L-cysteine (SPC) and S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) are two hydrophilic cysteine-containing compounds naturally formed in Allium plants such as garlic and onion. The major purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effect of SAC, SPC and aqueous extract of GPF on variation of hormones associated with obesity development in mice consuming a high fat diet. The impact of these agents on body weight, the plasma level of insulin, leptin, resistin, ghrelin and the weight of epididymis was determined.
The diet with 18% saturated fat significantly increased body weight and epididymal weight; and significantly elevated insulin, leptin and resistin levels in serum (P<0.05). However, the treatments from SPC and GPF (high dose) significantly reduced high fat diet-caused insulin, leptin and resistin levels in serum; and also significantly lowered body weight, epididymal weight and oxidative stress (P<0.05). It has been reported that abdominal obesity led to insulin and/or leptin resistance and increased resistin secretion. However, this present study found that SPC and GPF might alleviate leptin resistance, which further attenuated resistin elevation. These results support that Ligustrum lucidum Ait and SPC are potential agents for reducing body fat and affecting obesity associated hormones.
