Preventive Effect of Fermented Chestnut Inner Shell Extract on Obesity-Induced Hepatic Steatosis

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the gallic acid-enriched fermented chestnut inner shell extract (FCCE) by on a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis mouse model. Mice feeding FCCE exhibited reduced body weight gain compared to those in the HFD-fed group, and showed lower abdominal fat pad weight including epididymal, retroperitoneal, and mesenteric adipose tissue. Further, FCCE administration decreased adipocyte size by suppressing adipogenic factors such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein α, and lipogenic factors such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1. Moreover, FCCE decreased levels of lipids in serum and liver as well as serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, markers of liver injury. Histological observations of the liver showed that FCCE significantly attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. The effect of FCCE on hepatic lipid regulatory factors may be partly associated with adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation. These results suggest that gallic acid-enriched FCCE has potential to be a promising functional food for prevention of obesity and obesity-related fatty liver disease.