Abstract
Scope: Natural dietary anti‐obesogenic phytochemicals may help combat the rising global incidence of obesity. We aimed to identify key hepatic pathways targeted by anti‐obsogenic ginger phytochemicals fed to mice.
Methods and results: Weaning mice were fed a high‐fat diet containing 6‐gingerol (HFG), zerumbone (HFZ), a characterized rhizome extract of the ginger‐related plant Alpinia officinarum Hance (high fat goryankang, HFGK) or no phytochemicals (high‐fat control, HFC) for 6 wks and were compared with mice on a low‐fat control diet (LFC). Increased adiposity in the HFC group, compared with the LFC group, was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the HFG and HFGK groups without food intake being affected. Correlation network analysis, including a novel residuals analysis, was utilized to investigate relationships between liver proteomic data, lipid and cholesterol biomarkers and physiological indicators of adiposity. 6‐Gingerol significantly increased plasma cholesterol but hepatic farnesyl diphosphate synthetase, which is involved in cholesterol biosynthesis was decreased, possibly by negative feedback. Acetyl‐coenzyme A acyltransferase 1 and enoyl CoA hydratase, which participate in the β‐oxidation of fatty acids were significantly (p<0.05) increased by consumption of phytochemical‐supplemented diets.
Conclusion: Dietary ginger phytochemicals target cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid oxidation in mice, with anti‐obesogenic but also hypercholesterolemic consequences.