Camellia japonica Seeds Extract SuppressesLipid-induced Hypertriglyceridemia and Fat Accumulation in Mice

Abstract

As the seed extract from Camellia japonica (CJ) contains saponins, inhibitory effects of pancreatic lipase activity and body fat accumulation are expected. To investigate the anti-obesity effect of CJ seed extract, ICR mice were fed with a high-fat diet that was either supplemented or not with 1% CJ seed extract for 53 days. Including CJ seed extract in the high-fat diets of mice increased fecal fat excretion and decreased the body weight gain and lipid parameters in plasma and in the liver. In addition, lipid-induced hypertriglyceridemia was delayed by a single administration of CJ in ddY mice. Small intestinal transit was increased in ddY mice that received the CJ seed extract, but gastric emptying remained unchanged. These data demonstrate that CJ seed extract can suppress excess fat absorption, which can lead to the prevention of diet-induced obesity.