The administration of an extract from Berberis microphylla stimulates energy expenditure, thermogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics in mice brown adipose tissue

Luisa A. Ramirez, Javier Quezada, Lissette Duarte, Francisca Concha, Lucas Escobillana, Miguel Angel Rincon-Cervera, Francisco Perez-Bravo, Alvaro A. Elorza, Roberto Bravo-Sagua, Diego F. Garcia-Diaz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Obesity is defined as excess fat accumulation in white adipose tissue. In opposition to this storage function, brown adipose tissue (BAT) counters obesity, by consuming fat through thermogenesis. Obese individuals display lower BAT mitochondrial oxidative capacity and altered mitochondrial morphology. A promising strategy to fight obesity is dietary polyphenols, which increase BAT mass and function, stimulating energy expenditure (EE). Calafate, a polyphenol-rich Chilean native fruit, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. The effect of a Calafate extract (50 mg [total polyphenols]/kg body weight/day) on EE and mitochondrial function and morphology in BAT from obese mice was assessed. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subdivided into four treatments for 18 weeks: control diet (C), control diet + Calafate (CC), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet + Calafate (HFC). Calafate extract decreased high-fat diet-induced body weight gain from week 6 of treatment (p<0,05) and increased EE at rest (p = 0.03). In BAT, Calafate extract reversed the decrease in UCP-1 protein levels generated by the high-fat diet (p = 0.004). Also, Calafate extract improved mitochondrial transmembrane potential (p = 0.04). The extract did not substantially modify mitochondrial morphology, although it increased the expression of optic atrophy protein 1 (p = 0.01), a mitochondrial fusion-related protein. In sum, consumption of a polyphenol-rich Calafate extract prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity, concomitant with higher energy expenditure, and improved BAT mitochondrial function in obese mice.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100988
JournalFood Bioscience
Volume41
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Brown adipose tissue
  • Calafate
  • Mitochondria
  • Polyphenols
  • Thermogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Biochemistry

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