• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing interest in anti-obesity strategies. According to the National Statistical Office, the obesity rate in Korea was 38.3% in 2020 and 37.1% in 2021. Obesity is a risk factor for several severe diseases, including stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda is a hybrid of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda Linn, and its cones are considered a by-product. Although previous studies have investigated their pharmacological effects on antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage, few researchers have explored their potential as functional natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of the cone of ethyl acetate fraction of P. rigida × P. taeda (ERT), specifically its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. Our analysis showed that ERT contains phytochemicals (catechin and caffeic acid) which are known to improve immune function and inhibit cell damage. ERT inhibited lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular levels through Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ERT suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and CEBP/α) as well as downstream lipogenic target genes (FAS and SREBP-1) thereby inhibiting adipogenesis. ERT also down-regulated key adipogenic markers, including aP2α, while inducing the phosphorylation of AMPK. It has been reported that PPARγ and CEBP/α are expressed in the early stages of adipose differentiation, while SREBP-1 is expressed in the late stage. Therefore, our findings suggest that ERT activates AMPK signaling pathways, which inhibits adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1) and lipogenic genes (FAS and aP2α), thereby blocking lipid accumulation and preventing obesity and related disorders. ERT showed potential as a new resource for developing a functional material for anti-obesity agents.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.51-51
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• 2023

The world-wide rate of obesity is increasing continuously, representing a serious medical threat since it is associated with a variety of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and numerous cancers. Sophora japonicais used as a traditional herb for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. However, the anti-obesity effects of S. japonicafruit have not been explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by an ethanol extract of S. japonicafruit (EESF) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Our results demonstrate that EESF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EESF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which was associated with a significant inhibition of the levels of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ. In addition, EESF potentially down regulated the expression levels of adipocyte-specific proteins, including aP2 and leptin. In particular, EESF treatment effectively enhanced the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway; however, the co-treatment with compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, significantly restored the EESF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results indicate that EESF may exert an anti-obesity effect by controlling the AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the fruit extract of S. japonica may be a potential anti-obesity agent.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.123-130
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• 2012

In this study, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheats were assessed for their total phenol content, total flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power), and anti-adipogenic effects. Our results show that total phenol contents of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary and common buckwheats were $17.35{\pm}0.41$ and $8.20{\pm}0.28\;{\mu}g$ GAE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities of 80% ethanolic extract from tartary buckwheat were significantly higher than that of common buckwheat extract (p<0.05). During adipocyte differentiation, 80% ethanolic extracts of tartary and common buckwheat significantly inhibited lipid accumulation compared to control cells. We further evaluated the effect of buckwheat extracts on the changes of key gene expression associated with 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and ROS production. Tartary buckwheat extract was more suppressed the mRNA expressions ($PPAR{\gamma}$ and aP2) than that of common buckwheat extract. Moreover, tartary buckwheat inhibited the mRNA expression of both NOX4 (NADPH oxidase 4) and G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). These results indicate that anti-adipogenesis effect of tartary buckwheat can be attributed to phenolic compound that may potentially inhibit ROS production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2015

Myelophycus simplex Papenfuss is distributed over the northern Pacific and southern coast of Korea, and is a member of the brown algae family. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of M. simplex methanol extract on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet content observed by Oil Red O staining. Also, the M. simplex methanol extract significantly suppressed the triglyceride content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 300 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of M. simplex methanol extract caused a 42% and 76% reduction in lipid droplet content, respectively. In order to understand the anti-adipogenic effects of M. simplex methanol extract, the changes in the expression of several adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\gamma}$-cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$, were investigated using immunoblotting. M. simplex suppressed the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and $C/EBP{\beta}$ proteins compared with control. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that M. simplex methanol extract inhibits adipocyte differentiation and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-obesity functional food agent.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

In this study, the potential capacity of the crude extract and its solvent fractions from S. siliquanstrum against adipocyte differentiation were evaluated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The anti-adipogenic effect of S. siliquanstrum was evidenced by the fact that its crude extract decreases the lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and the expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$. All solvent fractions except the water fraction showed an observable decrease in lipid accumulation and $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expressions. In conclusion, these results suggest that S. siliquanstrum possesses obesity inhibiting components, which may possibly be used as a valuable anti-obesity agent for reducing the risk of obesity.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2010

Hydrolysate silk fibroin (HSF) is a fibrous protein composed of parallel $\beta$-structures and is made from pure silk elements including 18 amino acids, with glycine, alanine, and serine comprising of over 80% of the amino acids. Numerous studies have documented a range of effects of HSF, including moisturizing, antioxidant activity, nervous system disorders, and many more. We investigated whether HSF has anti-obesity effects in vitro. The effects of HSF inhibition on lipid accumulation and acceleration of lipid degradation in 3T3-L1 cells were studied. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with HSF caused significant inhibition of cell viability, an increase in glycerol release, and a decreased in adipocyte differentiation. Moreover HSF stimulated downregulated of adipogenic enzyme expressions (PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$) and up-regulated of fatty oxidation enzyme expressions (CPT-1 and UCP-2). Based on these results, hydrolysate silk fibroin can be suggested as a potential therapeutic substance as part of a prevention or treatment strategy for obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate novel usability as natural anti-obesity supplement of Selaginella tamariscina extract. The total phenol contents and total flavonoid contents were $60.29{\pm}3.11GAE\;mg/g$ and $14.90{\pm}0.34QE\;mg/g$, respectively. To evaluate anti-obesity activity of Selaginella tamariscina extract, pancreatic lipase inhibition activity as well as its inhibition effect of lipid accumulation in adipocytes were conducted by Oil Red O staining and lipolysis assay. The result of pancreatic lipase inhibition activity of S. tamariscina extract showed a wide range between 40 and 73% dose dependently. While the incubation of 3T3-L1 cells with S. tamariscina extract inhibited differentiation of preadipocytes and reduced lipid accumulation, the level of released free glycerol into culturing medium was increased in multiple concentrations. These results showed that S. tamariscina extract inhibit adipogenesis and pancreatic lipase activity. Thus, S. tamariscina extract can be a candidate for regulating lipid accumulation in obesity.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.335-350
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• 2014

Compared to the large numbers of studies on the diabetes, hyperlipidemia and cancer therpeutic effects of ginseng, the anti-obese effect and mechanisms of ginsengs have not been studied as much. To determine the effects of ginseng on obesity, 14 keywords (ginseng, ginsenoside, obesity, weight, fat, diet, overeat, appetite, lipid, 3T3-L1, adipocyte, food intake, adipogenesis and lipolysis) were combined in searching a database. Fifty-six articles published from 1983 to 2012 as well as 656 patents registered until Aug $17^{th}$, 2012, were screened for anti-obese effects of ginseng. In the classification of experimental methods, 16 papers on 3T3-L1 cells, 38 papers on animals and three papers on human were reviewed. In terms of obese mechanisms of action, the most commonly used biomarkers were in order of lipid profiles > weight change > blood glucose > adipocytokine. Most ginseng studies on obesity focused on AMPK, $PPAR{\gamma}$, GLUT-4, PI3K and SREBP-1. Korean white ginseng extracts and Re repressed the lipogenesis genes such as PPARc2, SREBP-1c, LPL, FAS and DGAT1. However, ginseng or ginsenosides, PD (Rb1) and PT (Re), showed different or contradictory results. Water and ethanol extraction of ginseng showed contradictory effects on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, wheras IL-6 was repressed by ethanol extracts and TNF-${\alpha}$ repressed by Re in vitro. Based on the literature, further studies on anti-obese mechanisms of ginseng, such as the inflammation-related obesity or cross signals between the adipocytes and the environments, are needed, instead of more studies on its hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2022

In this study, in order to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of sargassum horneri extract, the effects of the extract on lipase activity and preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells were investigated. S. horneri extract between 0.0 and 1.0 mg/mL showed no cytotoxicity and inhibited lipase activity by 68.1%. When S. horneri extract was utilized at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL in 3T3-L1 cells, preadipocytes differentiation decreased by 11.4, 19.7, and 25.6%, respectively, showing anti-obesity effects. In addition, after treatment with 1.0 mg/mL S. horneri extract, the mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding proteins-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-α (CEBP-α), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase1 (SCD1) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by 65.2, 54.9, 50.0, 33.8, and 33.8% respectively. These results showed that S. horneri extract suppresses lipase activity and prophylactic preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1, and thus can be used as an anti-obesity agent in functional foods and medicines.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.15
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• 2022

Background: Flavonoids are natural polyphenols found widely in citrus fruit and peel that possess anti-adipogenic effects. On the other hand, the detailed mechanisms for the antiadipogenic effects of flavonoids are unclear. Objectives: The present study observed the anti-adipogenic effects of five major citrus flavonoids, including hesperidin (HES), narirutin (NAR), nobiletin (NOB), sinensetin (SIN), and tangeretin (TAN), on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in palmitate (PA)-treated HepG2 cells. Methods: The intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) contents were quantified by Oil-red O staining and TG assay, respectively. The glucose uptake was assessed using 2-[N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) assay. The levels of AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) phosphorylation, and levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) expression were analyzed by Western blot analysis. The potential interaction between the flavonoids and the γ-subunit of AMPK was investigated by molecular docking analysis. Results: The flavonoid treatment reduced both intracellular lipid accumulation and TG content in PA-treated HepG2 cells significantly. In addition, the flavonoids showed increased 2-NBDG uptake in an insulin-independent manner in PA-treated HepG2 cells. The flavonoids increased the AMPK, ACC, and GSK3β phosphorylation levels and decreased the SREBP-2 and HMGCR expression levels in PA-treated HepG2 cells. Molecular docking analysis showed that the flavonoids bind to the CBS domains in the regulatory γ-subunit of AMPK with high binding affinities and could serve as potential AMPK activators. Conclusion: The overall results suggest that the anti-adipogenic effect of flavonoids on PA-treated HepG2 cells results from the activation of AMPK by flavonoids.