Effect of wasabi (Wasabia japonica) on metabolic parameters of diet-induced obese Wistar rats

 

Introduction:

Obesity has become one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), one of the consequences of the metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity, has reached a prevalence of ˜24% worldwide. Phytotherapeutic agents such as wasabi have been shown to be effective therapeutic remedies against obesity and chronic diseases. The present study aims to investigate the influence of Wasabia japonica on the metabolic parameters of diet-induced obese Wistar rats.

Methods:

Rats were fed either a corn starch (C) or high-fat high-carbohydrate (H) diet for 8 weeks. After this period, groups were treated with 5% of Wasabia japonica for 8 weeks, corn starch plus wasabi (CW) (n = 12/group) and high-fat high-carbohydrate plus wasabi (HW) (n = 12/group). Animals had ad libitum access to food and water. Metabolic parameters including basal blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), and uncoupling protein1 (UCP-1) were measured after the 8-week protocol.

Results:

HW and CW groups presented 17% and 13% less BMI respectively, when compared to control groups. However, CW rats showed a 17% decrease in basal blood glucose levels compared to C rats (p < 0.0001), whereas HW had no significant difference in measured glycaemic levels. Evaluating UCP-1 expression we found that treated groups had a significant increase in the cellular expression.

Conclusions:

This 8-week trial suggests that wasabi exerted an ameliorative effect on the studied metabolic parameters. These findings suggest that Wasabia japonica has potential applications as an additional therapy to the conventional approaches provided to individuals with obesity and related disease.