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Caffeic acid (CFA), a natural polyphenolic compound which exists in coffee, fruits and certain traditional Chinese medicine, is one promising anti-obesity agent with a variety of pharmacological activities. The objective of the current study was to determine the mechanism of anti-obesity effect of CFA, and the relationship between its anti-obesity effect and gut microbiota change in high fat diet induced obese (DIO) mice. The DIO mice were administrated CFA by daily gavage at 50 mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks. The results showed that CFA significantly ameliorated high fat diet induced obesity. Specifically CFA reduced body weight and fat accumulation, improved lipid profile and increased energy expenditure in DIO mice. Moreover, CFA restored gut microbiota imbalance and increased the abundance of anti-obesity related bacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria in DIO mice. We conclude that CFA is effective to reduce metabolic risks possibly by regulating gut microbiota.

Mulberry leaf garners much attention from researchers because of its hypoglycemic effect. This study’s objective was to determine the impact of mulberry leaf aqueous extract (MLAE) on decreasing blood glucose and promoting energy expenditure in obese C57BL/6J mice (induced by a high-fat diet). The mice were fed with high fat diet and treated with MLAE for 12 weeks. The results showed that MLAE significantly ameliorated the hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in mice that were induced by their high-fat diet. The improved blood glucose metabolism accompanied by elevated energy expenditure was found. Abundant flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids in MLAE may have contributed to the above results. Also, MLAE restored gut microbiota imbalance in obese mice and was beneficial to their liver and kidney functioning. Together, these results suggest MLAE may be a potent ingredient in dietetics and can serve as a safe hypoglycemic ingredient in health product development.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of the end-stage renal disease worldwide and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortalities in diabetic patients. We evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-chronic renal damage effect of mulberry leaf tea, a potential functional food material. Mulberry leaf tea significantly alleviated symptoms of DN rats including reducing blood glucose level, improving insulin sensibility and ameliorating blood lipid profile and chronic renal damages. The abundant pharmacologically compounds in mulberry leaf tea such as 1-DNJ, flavonoids, polyphenols and polysaccharides were likely responsible for its beneficial effects. Furthermore, we found that mulberry leaf tea alleviated DN by reducing DAG-PKC cascades including regulating energy metabolism, improving insulin sensibility and reducing inflammatory response. Mulberry leaf tea also modulated the community structure of the intestinal flora which were closely associated with diabetes and its complications. Mulberry leaf tea provides a novel dietotherapy for DN.