Dietary licorice root supplementation reduces diet-induced weight gain, lipid deposition, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice without stimulating reproductive tissues and mammary gland

Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, Ping Gong, Yiru Chen Zhao, Liwen Xu, Kinga U. Wrobel, James A. Hartman, Michelle Wang, Anthony Cam, Urszula T. Iwaniec, Russell T. Turner, Nathan C. Twaddle, Daniel R. Doerge, Ikhlas A. Khan, John A. Katzenellenbogen, Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, William G. Helferich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Scope: We studied the impact of dietary supplementation with licorice root components on diet-induced obesity, fat accumulation, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as a menopause model. Materials and methods: We evaluated the molecular and physiological effects of dietary licorice root administered to ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice as root powder (LRP), extracts (LRE), or isolated isoliquiritigenin (ILQ) on reproductive (uterus and mammary gland) and nonreproductive tissues important in regulating metabolism (liver, perigonadal, perirenal, mesenteric, and subcutaneous fat). Quantitative outcome measures including body weight, fat distribution (magnetic resonance imaging), food consumption, bone density and weight (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and gene expression were assessed by the degree of restoration to the preovariectomized health state. We characterized histological (H&E and oil red O staining) and molecular properties (expression of certain disease markers) of these tissues, and correlated these with metabolic phenotype as well as blood levels of bioactives. Conclusion: Although LRE and ILQ provided some benefit, LRP was the most effective in reducing body weight gain, overall fat deposition, liver steatosis, and expression of hepatic lipid synthesis genes following ovariectomy. Our data demonstrate that licorice root provided improvement of multiple metabolic parameters under conditions of low estrogen and high-fat diets without stimulating reproductive tissues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)369-380
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular Nutrition and Food Research
Volume60
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2016

Keywords

  • Botanical estrogens
  • Dietary supplements
  • Estrogen receptor
  • Licorice root
  • Menopause
  • Metabolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Food Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dietary licorice root supplementation reduces diet-induced weight gain, lipid deposition, and hepatic steatosis in ovariectomized mice without stimulating reproductive tissues and mammary gland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this