Polyphenol-Rich Fraction of Brown Alga Ecklonia cava Collected from Gijang, Korea, Reduces Obesity and Glucose Levels in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Ecklonia cava (E. cava) is a brown alga that has beneficial effects in models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of E. cava extracts on diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes have not been specifically examined. We investigated the effects of E. cava on body weight, fat content, and hyperglycemia in high-fat diet- (HFD) induced obese mice and sought the mechanisms involved. C57BL/6 male mice were fed a HFD (60% fat) diet or normal chow. After 3 weeks, the HFD diet group was given extracts (200 mg/kg) of E. cava harvested from Jeju (CA) or Gijang (G-CA), Korea or PBS by oral intubation for 8 weeks. Body weights were measured weekly. Blood glucose and glucose tolerance were measured at 7 weeks, and fat pad content and mRNA expression of adipogenic genes and inflammatory cytokines were measured after 8 weeks of treatment. G-CA was effective in reducing body weight gain, body fat, and hyperglycemia and improving glucose tolerance as compared with PBS-HFD mice. The mRNA expression of adipogenic genes was increased, and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage marker gene was decreased in G-CA-treated obese mice. We suggest that G-CA reduces obesity and glucose levels by anti-inflammatory actions and improvement of lipid metabolism.