Research Article

Populus balsamifera Extract and Its Active Component Salicortin Reduce Obesity and Attenuate Insulin Resistance in a Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model

Table 2

Effects of obesity, P. balsamifera, and salicortin treatments on systemic parameters at sacrifice.

DIOP. balsamifera 125 mg/kgP. balsamifera 250 mg/kgDIOSalicortin
12.5 mg/kg

Glucose (mmol/L)135 ± 14105 ± 8121 ± 10121 ± 6114 ± 6
Insulin (ng/mL)3056 ± 1074450 ± 238*832 ± 423
(P = 0.052)
1035 ± 150
Leptin (ng/mL)211 ± 28108 ± 18*145 ± 9
(P = 0.051)
246 ± 19
Adiponectin ( g/mL)70 ± 378 ± 1082 ± 5
(P = 0.054)
97 ± 5101 ± 6
Leptin/adiponectin ratio304 ± 37138 ± 16*181 ± 16*248 ± 12
TG (mmol/L)99 ± 880 ± 1082 ± 8118 ± 10106 ± 14
LDL (mmol/L)391 ± 31355 ± 37307 ± 42344 ± 20
HDL (mmol/L)141 ± 8112 ± 17125 ± 8157 ± 10137 ± 7
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)180 ± 9152 ± 14 151 ± 12203 ± 11
ALT (U/L)281 ± 39229 ± 47271 ± 77341 ± 123157 ± 27
AST (U/L)172 ± 30153 ± 22137 ± 22163 ± 27
Creatinine (U/L)184 ± 50491 ± 160557 ± 138276 ± 113136 ± 30
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L)115 ± 2085 ± 15100 ± 9106 ± 988 ± 17
LDH (U/L)341 ± 83 193 ± 61 376 ± 156154 ± 38

Measurements were obtained after 16 weeks of treatment with either standard diet (Chow), HFD (DIO), and for the last 8 of the 16 weeks with HFD in combination with P. balsamifera at 125 or 250 mg/kg, or with the active salicortin at 12.5 mg/kg. All values are expressed as a percentage of their respective Chow controls (reference set at 100%) and represent the mean ± SEM. The number of animals for each group for the P. balsamifera protocol was: CHOW ( ); DIO ); P. balsamifera 125 ( ); P. balsamifera 250 ( ); and for the salicortin protocol: CHOW ( ); DIO ); salicortin ( ). denotes DIO significantly different as compared to Chow (unpaired Student’s t test; P < 0.05). *denotes significantly different as compared to respective DIO (one way ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test; P < 0.05). denotes significantly different as compared to respective DIO (unpaired Student’s t test; P < 0.05).