Melanin-concentrating hormone-1 receptor antagonism and anti-obesity effects of ethanolic extract from Morus alba leaves in diet-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND

In Korea, Morus alba leaves have been traditionally administered as natural therapeutic agent for the alleviating dropsy and diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was performed to evaluate melanin-concentrating hormone receptor subtype 1 (MCH1) antagonism of the ethanol extract of Morus alba leaves (EMA) and its anti-obesity effect in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice.

METHODS

The binding affinity of EMA for the MCH1 receptor with europium-labeled MCH (Eu-MCH), the function of recombinant MCH1 receptors expressed in CHO cells, and the anti-obesity effects in DIO mice were evaluated.

RESULTS

MCH1 receptor binding studies showed, EMA exhibited a potent inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 2.3+/-1.0 microg/ml. EMA (10-100 microg/ml) also inhibited the intracellular calcium mobilization with the recombinant MCH1 receptors expressed in CHO cells. In an anti-obesity study with DIO mice, longterm oral administrations of EMA for 32 consecutive days produced a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and hepatic lipid accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that chronic treatment with EMA exerts an anti-obesity effect in DIO mice, and its direct MCH1 receptor antagonism may contribute to decrease body weight.