This study assessed the effect of Kaempferia parviflora, also known as black ginger (BG), and its
ethanol extract (BGE) on
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (
PPAR) γ agonistic activity,
glucose tolerance, fat accumulation, and
lipids-induced
hypertriglyceridemia in mice. PPARγ
ligand-binding capacity in vitro and polymethoxy
flavone contents were highly observed in organic
solvent extracts. In an animal experiment A, male diabetic Nagoya-Shibata-Yasuda mice were divided into five dietary groups and fed each diet for 8 weeks: AIN-93G
diet (low-fat [LF] diet), high-fat (HF) diet, HF diet supplemented with 1% BG, HF diet supplemented with 0.19% BGE, and HF diet supplemented with
pioglitazone (PPARγ agonist, 3 mg/kg/day) as a PPARγ agonistic positive control. As determined from
glucose and
insulin tolerance tests, plasma
glucose levels were improved in the BG and BGE groups. The BGE extract suppressed fat accumulation in adipose tissues, liver, and muscles without changing the plasma
adiponectin level. In an animal experiment B, in order to investigate the effect of BG and BGE on
lipid-induced
hypertriglyceridemia, male ddY mice were divided into three test groups: control, BG-administered group (500 mg/kg), and BGE-administered group (100 mg/kg). The plasma
triacylglycerol level was not different among the groups during the
lipids administration test. These results conclude that the BGE extract containing several kinds of polymethoxy
flavones showed PPARγ
ligand-binding capacity in vitro and prevented
obesity and
insulin resistance independent of
adiponectin secretion in mice. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Kaempferia parviflora, also known as black ginger (BG), is often used as a
folk medicine and a functional food material to prevent
metabolic syndrome mainly in Asian regions. Here, we have clarified that
ethanol extract from BG (BGE) contains several kinds of polymethoxy
flavones to show PPARγ
ligand-binding capacity and is an active extract for the improvement of
obesity and
insulin resistance. The BGE is expected to be applied for functional food materials in health food markets. Also, polymethoxy
flavones to show PPARγ
ligand-binding capacity can be generally applied as a physiological active compound of functional food supplements.