This study evaluated the effects of Rubus coreanus Miq. oil on the plasma lipid profile of high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). After completion of the 5-week experimental period, we measured bodyweight gain, food intake, adipose tissue mass, and plasma lipid profile. We also analyzed the activities of carnitine and superoxide dismutase (SOD) involved in β-oxidation and antioxidation, respectively. Our results show that HFD-induced weight gain in animals in the R. coreanus Miq. oil diet group (RCO) and corn oil diet group (CO) was significantly lower compared to animals in the HFD group; RCO supplementation had a more noticeable effect than CO. Visceral and back fat weights were lower in the RCO and CO groups while plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL-C per total cholesterol [HDL-C/TC (%)] ratio were significantly higher in the RCO group. The contents of acid-soluble acylcarnitine and total carnitine as well as SOD activation were significantly higher in the RCO group, but no significant difference was observed between the RCO and CO groups. In conclusion, RCO effectively averted elevation of total body weight and fat weight in HFD-induced obese mice and promoted increased HDL-C. Therefore, R. coreanus Miq. oil might play an anti-obesity role in obese people and could be used as an effective oil supplement.

Keywords: Rubus coreanus Miq. oil, serum lipids, anti-obesity, antioxidant activities, C57BL/6J mice