• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.204-218
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• 2024

Elsholtzia fruticosa (EF) is present in tropical regions throughout South Asian countries as well as the Himalayas. Although it has been used as a traditional medicine to treat digestive, respiratory, and inflammatory issues, its effect on preadipocyte differentiation is unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of a methanol extract prepared from EF on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Cell differentiation was assessed by microscopic observation and oil-red O staining. The expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, including PPARγ and C/EBPα, was measured by western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), to provide insight into adipogenesis and lipogenesis mechanisms. The results indicated that EF promotes the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, with elevated lipid accumulation occurring in a concentration-dependent manner without apparent cytotoxicity. EF enhances the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, including PPARγ, FABP4, adiponectin, and FAS, at the mRNA and protein levels. The effect of EF was more pronounced during the early and middle stages of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation. Treatment with EF decreased C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) mRNA and protein levels, while increasing C/EBPα and PPARγ expression. Treatment with EF resulted in the upregulation of cyclin E and CDK2 gene expression within 24 h, followed by a decrease at 48 h, demonstrating the early-stage impact of EF. A concomitant increase in cyclin-D1 levels was observed compared with untreated cells, indicating that EF modulates lipogenic and adipogenic genes through intricate mechanisms involving CHOP and cell cycle pathways. In summary, EF induces the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by increasing the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes, possibly through CHOP and cell cycle-dependent mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2013

Aldose reductase (AR) has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. To discover novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural sources, 59 Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, 10 herbal medicines, Catalpa fargesii (stem and leaf), Saussurea Laniceps(whole plant), Alnus nepalensis(stem and leaf), Swertia macrosperma (whole plant), Woodfordia fruticosa (stem and leaf), Elsholtzia bodinieri (whole plant), Elsholtzia fruticosa (whole plant), Rosa multiflora (fruit), Nardostachys chinensis (whole plant), Eurya groffii (stem and leaf) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity compared with 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG) as positive control. Particularly, 4 herbal medicines, C. fargesii (stem and leaf), S. Laniceps (whole plant), A. nepalensis (stem and leaf), S. macrosperma (whole plant) showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than TMG ($5.37{\mu}g/ml$).