Beneficial Effect of Bis(Hinokitiolato)Zn Complex on High-fat Diet-induced Lipid Accumulation in Mouse Liver and Kidney

Background/Aim: Metabolic syndrome-induced lifestyle-related diseases include diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension, and Zn-based compounds have effects on DM. We aimed to investigate the ameliorating effects of bis(hinokitiolato) Zn, [Zn(hkt)(2)] on lipid metabolism in the liver and kidney, histopathologically. Materials and Methods: We used a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mouse model and administered a diet containing 10-20 mg Zn/kg body weight (BW) or 20 mg pioglitazone/kg BW as the positive control. After the treatments, we collected blood, liver, and kidney samples and morphologically evaluated the mouse organs for fat accumulation. Results: After a 4-month HFD administration, ectopic fat deposition was detected in the liver and kidney. Furthermore, Zn accumulation in the liver and kidney increased following [Zn(hkt)(2)] treatment, that reduced lipid accumulations and lipid toxicity in these tissues. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that [Zn(hkt)(2)] could be a novel anti-dyslipidaemia compound for treating diet-induced obesity.