Red bayberry extract prevents high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in C57BL/6 mice

Red bayberry, also called Chinese bayberry, is the fruit of Myrica rubra (Lour.) Sieb. et Zucc., which is used as both food and nutraceuticals in East Asian countries. The present study aimed to investigate whether the red bayberry extract (RBE) exhibits an anti-metabolic disorder effect on C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The extract contained high levels of polysaccharides and polyphenols. C57BL/6 mice were treated with a chow diet, HFD or HFD mixed with 1% (w/w) RBE for 8 weeks. Results showed that RBE blocked the body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, and lowered serum and liver triacylglycerol (TG) contents in HFD fed mice. Furthermore, RBE inhibited the mRNA expression levels of liver X receptor (LXR) α and its target genes, and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and its target genes. The study suggested that RBE could prevent metabolic disorders in C57BL/6 mice induced by HFD, through the inhibition of the LXRα and the activation of PPARα signaling.