Abstract:

Purpose: To study the weight loss effect of phytosterol ester and puerarin in obese mice. Methods: An obese
mouse model was established by feeding high fat diet, and then the obese mice were divided into five groups, including
model group, phytosterol ester group, puerarin group, phytosterol ester plus puerarin group, orlistat tablet group (10 mice per
group). The treatments by gavage lasted for six weeks. Then, body weight, food intake, obese index, fat index, serum total
cholestetol (TC), serum triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C), the number and diameter of fat cells and liver lesions were measured. Results: Compared with the model group,
body weight in the mice from phytosterol ester group, puerarin group and combined treatment group were respectively
decreased by 5.41%, 6.98% and 12.50%. Obese indexes were respectively decreased by 3.41%, 3.26% and 6.25%. Fat
indexes were respectively decreased by 19.88%, 27.41% and 30.42%. The serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C of the groups
treated with phytosterol ester and/or puerarin decreased compared to the model group, and the combined treatment group
showed the largest decline in the three serum lipid parameters by 21.40%, 37.50% and 30.43%, respectively. The number of
fat cells in the combined treatment group was increased, and liver fatty lesion was also alleviated. Conclusion: Phytosterol
ester and puerarin have weight-reducing effects on obese mice, especially when used in combination.

Key words: phytosterol ester, puerarin, obese mouse, weight loss