Extract from seeds of the Melinjo tree may improve obesity and diabetes
- Melinjo seed extract activates the physiologically beneficial substance adiponectin which improves obesity and diabetes.-
In Southeast Asia, the fruit, flowers, and leaves of Indonesia's "Melinjo" tree are traditional foods. Researchers from Kumamoto University, Japan who study plants from around the world for useful medicinal properties have found that Melinjo seed extract (MSE) stimulates the production of adiponectin, a beneficial hormone that improves obesity and diabetes. They also discovered that individual genotype differences were responsible for variations in its efficacy.
Melinjo fruit have high antioxidant and antibacterial qualities and are known to contain large amounts of polyphenols. One such compound, resveratrol, has been shown to induce adiponectin and may improve lifestyle-related diseases like metabolic syndrome. Gnetin C, a type of resveratrol abundant in MSE, is known to have higher antioxidant activity and stays in the body longer than resveratrol. However, the detailed mechanism by which these compounds exert their biological activity is still unknown.
Kumamoto University's Global Center for Natural Resources Sciences conducts component isolation and identification of useful plants and natural products from around the world and evaluates their pharmacological activities. Within the center, Dr. Kentaro Oniki's research team used genetic analysis to find that differences in the type of DsbA-L (Disulfide-bond-A oxidoreductase-like protein) gene affects adiponectin activation. In other words, DsbA-L induction may promote adiponectin activation and improve lifestyle-related diseases. In their recent work, they attempted to determine 1) whether MSE enhances the function of DsbA-L, 2) whether MSE promotes adiponectin activation, and 3) whether MSE has a therapeutic effect on obesity and diabetes.
In their first study (double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled), 42 healthy adult men took MSE supplements orally for 14 days. They found that taking 300 mg of MSE per day activated adiponectin in human males. They also found that effects varied depending on the differences in the type of DsbA-L gene (G/G, G/T, T/T) possessed by the individual. MSE effects were large in G/T or T/T genotype carriers whose gene expression level was presumed to be low.
Following the results of the clinical trials, another of the center’s researchers, Dr. Tsuyoshi Shuto, and his research team tested the compound in a high fat diet mouse model with obesity-induced diabetes. By measuring the effects of MSE on DsbA-L expression and blood adiponectin concentration in various tissues, they found that daily oral administration of MSE over a period of four weeks increased the expression of DsbA-L and the amount of activated adiponectin in the body. Diabetic pathologies, in muscle tissue also improved. Symptoms such as increased fat accumulation and fasting blood sugar levels significantly improved.
These research results show that MSE promotes DsbA-L expression, increases the amount of activated adiponectin, and may improve obesity and diabetic symptoms in living organisms, especially in mice.
"We believe that our findings can benefit human health through the treatment of obesity and diabetes by focusing on the induction of the DsbA-L gene using MSE," said Associate Professor Shuto. "We hope that this work contributes to a healthier society through the creation of innovative medicines and products from plants and other natural resources. It is important to provide solid scientific evidence that supports the use of natural resources in emerging countries and using them for beneficial drug discovery and health."
This research was posted online in "Scientific Reports" on 9 March 2020.
[Source]
Oniki, K., Kawakami, T., Nakashima, A., Miyata, K., Watanabe, T., Fujikawa, H., … Shuto, T. (2020). Melinjo seed extract increases adiponectin multimerization in physiological and pathological conditions. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61148-2
[Publication URL]
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61148-2
[Fund(s)]
1) Yamada Research Grant, 2) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology (MEXT), 3) Program for Building Regional Innovation Ecosystems "Useful and Unique Natural Products for Drug Discovery and Development” (UpRod)
[Number(s)]
1) #0217, 2) JP17K15510, JP25460102, JP17H03570, JP17J11629, JP16K08406, 3) NA
[Media 1]
MSE dosage and its effect on adiponectin activation by DsbA-L gene type
Adiponectin activation is affected more in patients who are DsbA-L G/T or T/T genotype carriers (low gene expression) and take 300 mg of MSE per day.
CREDIT: Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Shuto
USAGE RESTRICTIONS:
Parts of this image are adapted from Fig. 2 of Oniki, K., Kawakami, T., Nakashima, A., Miyata, K., Watanabe, T., Fujikawa, H., … Shuto, T. (2020). Melinjo seed extract increases adiponectin multimerization in physiological and pathological conditions. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61148-2
It is made available under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Any further distribution of this work must follow the terms of this license.
[Media 2]
Administration of MSE to high fat diet mice (HFD murine model with obesity-induced diabetes)
Administration of MSE to HFD mice increases the expression of DsbA-L and the amount of activated adiponectin in the body, and significantly improves diabetic symptoms such as increased fat accumulation and fasting blood glucose levels.
CREDIT: Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Shuto
USAGE RESTRICTIONS:
Parts of this image are adapted from Fig. 5 of Oniki, K., Kawakami, T., Nakashima, A., Miyata, K., Watanabe, T., Fujikawa, H., … Shuto, T. (2020). Melinjo seed extract increases adiponectin multimerization in physiological and pathological conditions. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61148-2
It is made available under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Any further distribution of this work must follow the terms of this license.
[Media 3]
Mechanisms of MSE and their beneficial effects
Mechanism by which MSE promotes the expression of DsbA-L in the living body, increases the amount of activated adiponectin, and improves obesity and diabetes symptoms
CREDIT: Associate Professor Tsuyoshi Shuto
USAGE RESTRICTIONS:
This image is Fig. 6 of Oniki, K., Kawakami, T., Nakashima, A., Miyata, K., Watanabe, T., Fujikawa, H., … Shuto, T. (2020). Melinjo seed extract increases adiponectin multimerization in physiological and pathological conditions. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61148-2
It is made available under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Any further distribution of this work must follow the terms of this license.