Abstract
Obesity causes adipocyte hypertrophy, which leads to cell death. Consequently, macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrate into the adipose tissue and elevate pro-inflammatory cytokine production through TLR activation. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of soybean extract, which was elicited by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and light, as an anti-inflammatory agent in mice with a high-fat and -fructose diet (HFFD). The elicited soybean extract (ESE) was administered orally to mice for four weeks after being given an HFFD for 20 weeks. Three different doses were used: (1) low-dose (78 mg/kg BW); (2) normal dose (104 mg/kg BW); and (3) high dose (130 mg/kg BW). HFFD mice model treated with simvastatin 2.8 mg/kg BW considered as drug control. After 24 weeks, the lymphocytes were isolated and the relative number of CD4(+)TLR3(+) T, CD4(+)TLR4(+) T, CD4(+)TNF-α (+) T, and CD4(+)IFN-γ (+) T cells were analysed using flow cytometry. The results showed that the HFFD mouse model had an increased number of CD4(+)TLR3(+) T, CD4(+)TLR4(+) T, CD4(+)TNF-α (+) T, and CD4(+)IFN-γ (+) T cells. ESE administration decreased the relative number of CD4(+)TLR3(+) T, CD4(+)TLR4(+) T, CD4(+)TNF-α (+) T, and CD4(+)IFN-γ (+) T cells. The normal dose of ESE is the most effective dose in suppressing inflammation compared to positive controls. ESE 104 mg/kg BW can be considered as an alternative herbal medicine that may suppress inflammation in HFFD mice.