Fig. 1

Effect of quercetin on hepatic lipid accumulation and glucose tolerance in HFD-fed obese mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a regular diet (RD), a high-fat diet (HFD), an HFD supplemented with 0.05 % quercetin (HF + 0.05 % Que) or 0.1 % quercetin (HFD + 0.1 % Que) for 9 weeks (n = 6 per group). a Liver tissues were collected and their TG content was determined. b Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin stained tissue. Original magnification, 200 ×. c Hepatic TBARS levels as a marker of lipid peroxidation. d Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Data are mean ± SEM of six mice per group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 versus HFD. e Fasting glucose and insulin levels. f Oral glucose tolerance test. Mice were fasted 12 h before receiving by mouth a 20 % glucose solution at a dose of 2 g/kg, and blood samples were taken at the indicated times. Levels of glucose were measured using the glucometer. Data are mean ± SEM of six mice per group. *p < 0.05, # p < 0.005 versus HFD. g Insulin responses. After fasting 5 h, mice were stimulated with or without insulin for 4 min. Expression of p-Akt, and Akt proteins in the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle of each mouse (n = 4 per group) were examined by Western blot analysis using the indicated antibodies. Data are mean ± SEM of four mice per group. *p < 0.05 versus HFD