Inhibition of obesity through alterations of C/EBP- α gene expression by gum Arabic in mice with a high-fat feed diet

Obesity is a metabolic disease associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previously we showed that Gum Arabic (GA) inhibited obesity in fed with diet-induced obesity. However, the mechanism underlying the mode of action is not fully elucidated. Here we aimed to identify the effects of GA on CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein- α (C/EBP- α) in mouse-fed diet-induced obesity. Thirty female CD-1 mice 90 days old were randomly divided into three groups (n=10). Mice were fed either a regular diet (control), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a high-fat diet containing 10% w/w GA (HFD+GA) for 15 weeks. Body weights, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), plasma lipid, blood glucose, plasma insulin, adiponectin, and leptin levels were measured. In addition, 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) and C/EBP- α gene mRNA expressions were measured, and 11β-HSD1 as well. Supplementation of GA significantly (P < 0.05) decreased body weight gain and VAT associated with decreases in blood glucose, total cholesterol LDL, and increased HDL concentrations. Likewise, administration of GA significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plasma Corticosterone (CORT) and leptin concentrations, whereas increased adiponectin compared to the control and HFD groups. In addition, GA administration significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the abundance of both hepatic 11β-HSD1 and C/EBP- α gene mRNA expression compared to the control and HFD groups. Supplementation of GA significantly (P < 0.05) down-regulated hepatic 11β-HSD1 protein expression compared to control and HFD groups. These findings indicate that GA consumption may be useful to prevent obesity through suppression of C/EBP- α gene expression.