Bangpungtongseong-san (BT), an oriental herbal medicine, is used to treat
obesity in Korea and East Asia and its antiobesity effects have been examined by several researchers. However, the molecular mechanisms of the antihepatic steatosis effects of BT are unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of BT on
obesity, particularly
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, by analyzing metabolic and transcriptional responses using
mRNA-sequencing profiles. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD + BT (1.5%, w/w, BT) for 12 weeks. Phenotype characteristics were estimated, and the antiobesity mechanism was examined using
mRNA sequencing transcriptomic profiles in HFD-induced obese mice. BT treatment ameliorated
dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced obese mice and reduced
body weight gain. The levels of hepatic lipotoxicity markers were significantly decreased, while hepatic
antioxidant enzyme activities were augmented by BT compared with in the HFD group. BT attenuated HFD-induced
fatty liver through transcriptional changes in the liver. BT treatment downregulated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation-related genes in the liver, suggesting improved mitochondrial function. BT treatment also decreased the hepatic
fibrosis-related transcriptome. Our findings provide insight into the antiobesity effects of BT, an alternative
oriental medicine, for treating
obesity-related conditions. Metabolic and transcriptional responses to diet-induced
obesity with BT treatment improved liver function.