• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2012

Obesity is a physical condition that results from excessive storage of fat in the body. The present study examined the anti-obesity effects of the selected natural medicine, Galla rhois extract (GRE) and solvent fractions on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and in vivo studies. Here, we show that EtOAc fraction of Galla rhois inhibits the differentiation of the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by differentiated medium in a dose-dependent manner. To investigate the effect of the GRE-EtOAc fraction on obesity in high fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice, which included a normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD+GRE concentration-dependent, were fed to the mice for 6 weeks. The GRE-EtOAc fraction was inhibited the highest adipocyte differentiation in vitro, the GRE supplement significantly decreased body weight and visceral fat mass compared to the HFD group. The total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the plasma were significantly decreased by GRE supplementation compared with those of the HFD group. Also, we aimed to determine the differentiation inhibition and the modulation of differentiation genes brought about by the Galla rhois in adipocyte. A cDNA microarray-based method was introduced for the high contents screening (HCS) of gene expressions. This technology has revolutionized gene expression studies by providing the means to measure mRNA levels in thousands of genes simultaneously in simple and complex biological samples. 13 genes were founded to be affected in their expression levels by more than 5-fold up-regulation after 4 days treatment with the EtOAc fraction from Galla rhois. Otherwise, 21 genes were founded to be affected in their expression levels by more than 5-fold down-regulation treated with the EtOAc fraction. Therefore, Galla rhois extract may be considered for use in a therapeutic agent to control obesity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.620-624
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• 2016

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is mandatory in adipogenesis. In this study, we investigated the applicability of functional materials for the treatment of obesity by examining Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity related to adipocyte differentiation inhibiting with korean native plant extracts. The luciferase activity of HEK 293-TOP cells increased the reporter activity approximately 152% and 130% by treatment with Sanguisorba officinalis and Thuja orientalis, respectively. Ricinus communis were represented about 90% higher activity, two samples(Rosa rugosa and Sophorae Flos) showed 80% higher activity than the control. Three samples of plant extracts (Zanthoxylum piperitum, Pueraria thunbergiana, Solanum nigrum) were about 70% higher activity compared with the non-treated control. Cytotoxicity of plant extracts was not detected in the rat neural stem cells. These results suggest that the selected eight plant extracts are safe compounds. Our findings indicate that Wnt/β-catenin pathway reporter activity could be used for high throughput screening system. In addition, the plant extracts selected as candidates for adipocyte differentiation inhibiting may be potential therapeutic agents for obesity, it will be exploring the possibility of developing an anti-obesity materials through further experiments with selected plant extracts.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.787-794
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• 2010

Calcium plays a role as a signaling molecule in various cellular events. It has been reported that calcium suppresses adipocyte differentiation only in the early phase of adipogenesis. Herein, we demonstrate that treatment of A23187, a mobilizer of intracellular calcium, on day 4 post adipocyte differentiation could still reduce lipid accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells for 48 h. In addition, luciferase reporter gene and RT-Q-PCR assays demonstrate that A23187 can selectively inhibit transcriptional activities and expression of PPAR$\gamma$ and LXR$\alpha$, suggesting that A23187 may reduce lipid accumulation in the late phase of adipogenesis via downregulation of PPAR$\gamma$ and LXR$\alpha$ expression and transactivation. Moreover, inhibition of HDAC activity by trichostatin A (TSA) partially blocked A23187-mediated downregulation of transcriptional activities of PPAR$\gamma$ and LXR$\alpha$. Together, our data demonstrate that calcium mobilization inhibits expression and transcriptional activities of PPAR$\gamma$ and LXR$\alpha$, resulting in reduced lipid accumulation in differentiating adipocytes, and thus, mobilization of intracellular calcium in adipocytes may serve as a new preventive and therapeutic approach for obesity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.432-439
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• 2007

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) act as potent activators of the adipose differentiation program in established preadipose cell lines. TZD's have also been investigated in diabetic patients and reported to act as PPAR-${\gamma}$ ligands. In this report, the effects of TZDs on the differentiation pathway of myoblasts have been investigated. C2C12 mouse myoblasts were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles medium for 4-5 days until they reached almost 100% confluency. Post-confluent cells (day 0) were further exposed to adipogenic induction medium along with TZDs for 48 hours. Thereafter, cells were exposed only to TZDs every 48 h until day 10. The control was provided with differentiation medium without any treatment. Alterations in the cells during the differentiation programme were analyzed on the basis of fusion index, oil-red-o staining, adipocyte index, adipocyte stain uptake measurement, immuno-histochemistry and western blotting. Exposure of C2C12 mouse myoblasts to TZDs prevented the expression of myosin heavy chain with parallel increase in the expression of C/EBP-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ and acquisition of adipocyte morphology, thus abolishing the formation of multinucleated myotubes. TZDs exert their adipogenic effects only in non-terminally differentiated myoblasts; myotubes were insensitive to the compound. Continuous exposure (at least 4-5 doses) to inducers after the growth arrest was essential to provide a sustained environment to the cells converting to fully matured adipoctyes. The results indicate that TZDs specifically converted the differentiation pathway of myoblasts into that of adipoblasts.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1551-1558
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• 2008

The mammalian cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins, CRABP-I and CRABP-II, bind retinoic acid which acts as an inducer of differentiation in several biological systems. To investigate a possible role for CRABP-II in bovine adipogenesis, we have cloned bovine CRABP-II cDNA and the coding region for CRABP-I. The predicted amino acid sequences of CRABP-II were highly conserved among several animal species (human, mouse, and rat at 97%, 93%, and 93%, respectively). The expression pattern of bovine CRABP-II was examined in greater details by applying RT-PCR to various bovine tissues. CRABP-II mRNA was expressed in most adipose-containing tissues. Moreover, the expression of CRABP-I and -II mRNA dramatically increased during the differentiation of adipocytes from bovine intramuscular fibroblast-like cells. The effects of retinoic acid on adipocyte differentiation of bovine intramuscular fibroblast-like cells were concentration-dependent. Retinoic acid activated the formation of lipid droplets at a level of 1 nM, whereas inhibition was observed at a level of $1{\mu}M$. CRABP-I gene was up-regulated and CRABP-II gene down-regulated by retinoic acid during adipocyte differentiation. These results suggest that CRABPs may play an important role in the regulation of intracellular retinoic acid concentrations during adipogenesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1055-1061
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• 2005

In this study, the aim was to investigate the effect of Mahwangpohang-tang on the expression of obesity-related genes and cytokines in high fat diet induced obesity mice. In order to investigate the effects of Mahwangpohang-tang(MHPH) on the obesity-related genes and cytokines, C57BL/6 mice were fed with high fat diet. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups and fed for 13weeks. Body weight change, diet intake change, final increase of body weight, the ratio of the adipocyte in body weight, the expression of leptin gene in primary adipocytes, the expression of UCP-2 in primary adipocytes, the production change of $TNF-\alpha$ and leptin in primary adipocytes, the expression of leptin in adipocytes tissue. The body weight of Mahwangpohang-tang(MHPH) intake mice was significantly lower than high fat diet group. The amount of the adipocyte in body weight was decreased Significantly. In primary adipocytes, leptin gene expression and the expression of UCP-2 did not change significantly. In primary adipocytes, the amount of $TNF-\alpha$ was significantly decreased at dose of $100{\mu}/ml$ density. In adipocytes tissue, the expression of leptin did not change significantly. These results suggest that MHPH may inhibit the expression of obesity-related genes and cytokines in high fat diet induced obesity mice

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of yogurt fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum Q180 in diet-induced obese rats. To examine the effects, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on six different diets, as follows: Group A was fed an ND and orally administrated saline solution; Group B, an HFD and orally administrated saline solution; Group C, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt fermented by ABT-3 and L. plantarum Q180; Group D, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt with added Garcinia cambogia extract, fermented by ABT-3 and L. plantarum Q180; Group E, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt fermented by L. plantarum Q180; and Group F, an HFD and orally administrated yogurt with added Garcinia cambogia extract, fermented by L. plantarum Q180 for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the rate of increase in bodyweight was 5.14%, 6.5%, 3.35% and 10.81% lower in groups C, D, E and F, respectively, compared with group B; the epididymal fat weight of groups E and F was significantly lower than that of group B; and the level of triglyceride and leptin was significantly reduced in groups C, D, E and F compared to group B. In addition, the level of AST was reduced in group C compared to the other groups. To examine the effects of yogurt on the reduction of adipocyte size, the adipocyte sizes were measured. The number of large-size adipose tissue was less distributed in groups A, C, D, E and F than in group B.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.116-123
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate effects and molecular mechanisms of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi extracts(AMK) on the improvement of adipocyte dysfunction induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We examined whether AMK could directly influence the inflammation and insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Potential roles of AMK in the lipolysis, production of inflammatory adipokines and ROS, expression and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ protein, and expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ were investigated in this study. Results : Our data demonstrated that TNF-${\alpha}$ significantly increased lipolysis, levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and ROS and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ protein, while TNF-${\alpha}$ reduced the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ in adipocytes, suggesting that TNF-${\alpha}$ induced a condition with the occurrence of inflammation and insulin resistance. Those alterations induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ were prevented by the treatment of AMK. AMK down-regulated the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ protein and up-regulated the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. Conclusions : Thus, our results indicate that AMK can be used to prevent from the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced adipocyte dysfunction through MAPK, $NF{\kappa}B$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathways.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

Propyl gallate (PG) used as an additive in various foods has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the functional roles of PG in various cell types are well characterized, it is unknown whether PG has effect on stem cell differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that PG could inhibit adipogenic differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) by decreasing the accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets. In addition, PG significantly reduced the expression of adipocyte-specific markers including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ (C/EBP-${\alpha}$), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2). PG inhibited adipogenesis in hAMSCs through extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Decreased adipogenesis following PG treatment was recovered in response to ERK blocking. Taken together, these results suggest a novel effect of PG on adipocyte differentiation in hAMSCs, supporting a negative role of ERK1/2 pathway in adipogenic differentiation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Background: Adipocytes, which are the main cellular component of adipose tissue, are the building blocks of obesity. The nuclear hormone receptor $PPAR{\gamma}$ is a major regulator of adipocyte differentiation and development. Obesity, which is one of the most dangerous yet silent diseases of all time, is fast becoming a critical area of research focus. Methods: In this study, we initially aimed to investigate whether the ginsenoside Rf, a compound that is only present in Panax ginseng Meyer, interacts with $PPAR{\gamma}$ by molecular docking simulations. After we performed the docking simulation the result has been analyzed with several different software programs, including Discovery Studio, Pymol, Chimera, Ligplus, and Pose View. All of the programs identified the same mechanism of interaction between $PPAR{\gamma}$ and Rf, at the same active site. To determine the drug-like and biological activities of Rf, we calculate its absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxic (ADMET) and prediction of activity spectra for substances (PASS) properties. Considering the results obtained from the computational investigations, the focus was on the in vitro experiments. Results: Because the docking simulations predicted the formation of structural bonds between Rf and $PPAR{\gamma}$, we also investigated whether any evidence for these bonds could be observed at the cellular level. These experiments revealed that Rf treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes downregulated the expression levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and perilipin, and also decreased the amount of lipid accumulated at different doses. Conclusion: The ginsenoside Rf appears to be promising compound that could prove useful in antiobesity treatments.