Scope

Previously, we showed that the intake of a persimmon peel (PP) extract altered hepatic gene expression associated with the insulin signaling pathway and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptors in nonobese type 2 diabetic Goto‐Kakizaki rats. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of fat‐soluble PP extract on obese type 2 diabetic KK‐A^y mice with insulin resistance.

Methods and results

KK‐A^y mice were fed a diet mixed with 0.1% of the extract for 8 weeks. The total ketone body levels in the plasma of PP extract‐fed mice were significantly lower than those in the normal diet‐fed mice. Hepatic nonesterified palmitic acid content was higher in the PP extract‐fed mice than in normal diet‐fed mice. The hepatic gene expression profiles of the treated mice indicated upregulation of fatty acid synthesis and downregulation of inflammation‐associated genes, predicting SREBP‐1c and PPARγ activation.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the PP extract enhances hepatic fatty acid synthesis via SREBP‐1c and PPARγ, as well as anti‐inflammatory activity in KK‐A^y mice.