Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) root, a well-known medicinal plant in Asia, is reported to have
various therapeutic benefits, including anti-diabetes, anti-hypertension, and antihyperlipidaemia.
We hypothesized that the ethanol extract of lotus root (ELR) would
exhibit an anti-adipogenic effect in human pre-adipocytes as well as anti-obesity and antioxidant
effects in rats fed a high-fat diet. Treatment with ELR in human pre-adipocytes
resulted in inhibition of lipid accumulation and attenuated expression of adipogenic
transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and
adipocyte marker genes, such as glucose transporter 4 and leptin. Administration of ELR
resulted in a significant decrease in relative weights of adipose tissues in rats fed a high-fat
diet. Consumption of a high-fat diet resulted in an increase in serum total cholesterol (TC)
and triglyceride (TG) levels; however, administration of ELR resulted in a decrease in the
levels of TC and TG. Administration of ELR resulted in a decrease in the level of serum leptin
and insulin. Administration of ELR in rats fed a high-fat diet resulted in a decrease in hepatic
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content, elevated by a high-fat diet and an increase in
superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic glutathione content. These results suggest that
lotus root exerts anti-oxidant and anti-obesity effects and could be used as a functional and
nutraceutical ingredient in combatting obesity-related diseases.