• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2009

Gymnema sylvestre, a traditional India medicine called a 'Gagaimogouip' in Korea, has been used to regulate sugar metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus. First, we induced callus from Gymnema sylvestre leaf and mode extract from cultured callus. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of tissue-cultured Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in 3T3-L1 cells. The tissue-cultured Gymnema sylvestre extract inhibited the cytoplasmic lipid accumulation as well as adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes. The tissue-cultured Gymnema sylvestre extract inhibited insulin-induced predipocyte differentiation through the inhibition of expression of the early adipogenic transcription factor C/EBP-${\alpha}$ that regulate adipogenesis. These results indicate that tissue-cultured Gymnema sylvestre extract may be potential natural ingredient for slimming cosmetic products.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 2009

Adipocytes undergo adipocyte stress in the excessive presence of lipid. Adipocyte stress accompanies the typical signs of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress: unfolded protein response and overexpression of molecular chaperones. Apoptotic induction in adipocytes is known as a good strategy for treating obesity. The drug "tunicamycin" was tested for its therapeutic potential in inducing apoptosis on differentiating adipocytes of 3T3-L1. When the 3T3-L1 cells, stimulated for adipogenesis, were treated with tunicamycin, they showed typical ER stress symptoms. Despite progression in ER stress, however, the differentiated 3T3-L1 hardly proceeded to apoptosis based on the CHOP protein expression and FACS analysis. This is very different from C2C12, the myogenic counterpart of 3T3-L1, which showed significant apoptosis along with ER stress. This study also characterizes a potential mechanism whereby adipocyte may avoid apoptosis to sustain the pathological state of obesity. The level of GRP94 expression significantly upholds in 3T3-L1 under tunicamycin treatment compared to preadipocytes and C2C-12. When GRP94 expression was inhibited by siRNA, 3T3-L1 showed a higher level of CHOP expression compared to C2C12 cells. In conclusion, adipocytes exert an anti-apoptotic mechanism under ER stress caused by tunicamycin; thus, apoptotic induction in adipocyte is not a viable anti-obesity option. The unusual level of GRP94 may serve as a key role whereby adipocytes reach to the obesity level circumventing the apoptosis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the anti-obesity effects of raw and pickled garlic in vitro in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: The pickled garlic samples comprised the following: garlic aged in vinegar (VG), garlic aged in soy sauce, and vinegar (1:1, v/v) (PG) and raw garlic (RG) as control. Hexane, butanol, and distilled water were used to prepare the fractions. The pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity was used as a measure of anti-obesity effects of the extracts. The lipid droplet accumulation and triglyceride content in the 3T3-L1 cells were measured using Oil red O staining and triglyceride assay kits, respectively. The adipogenesis related protein expression levels were analyzed using the kits and the western blot method. Results: The pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of the garlic extracts (VG, PG, RG) was the highest in the butanol fraction, and the inhibitory effect was the highest in RG, followed by PG and VG. All garlic butanol extracts suppressed triglyceride accumulation in differentiated adipocytes (P<0.05) through the activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), AMP-activated protein kinase, carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1, and the inhibition of fatty acid synthase. Raw garlic extracts significantly inhibited the expression of proteins involved in adipogenesis as compared to pickled garlic. Conclusions: Raw garlic has the potential to be an effective natural material for reducing obesity compared to pickled garlic with vinegar or soy sauce.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 2021

Gentisic acid (GA), a benzoic acid derivative present in various food ingredients, has been shown to have diverse pharmaceutical activities such as anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we used a co-culture system to investigate the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic effects of GA on macrophages and adipocytes, respectively, as well as its effect on obesity-related chronic inflammation. We found that GA effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory responses by controlling the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating inflammation-related protein pathways. GA treatment also inhibited lipid accumulation in adipocytes by modulating the expression of major adipogenic transcription factors and their upstream protein pathways. Furthermore, in the macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system, GA decreased the production of obesity-related cytokines. These results indicate that GA possesses effective anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic activities and may be used in developing treatments for the management of obesity-related chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.599-605
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Citrus flavonoids have a variety of physiological properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity. We investigated whether bioconversion of Citrus unshiu with cytolase (CU-C) ameliorates the anti-adipogenic effects by modulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Glycoside forms of Citrus unshiu (CU) were converted into aglycoside forms with cytolase treatment. Cell viability of CU and CU-C was measured at various concentrations in 3T3L-1 cells. The anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects were examined using Oil red O staining and free glycerol assay, respectively. We performed real time-polymerase chain reaction and western immunoblotting assay to detect mRNA and protein expression of adipogenic transcription factors, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with cytolase decreased flavanone rutinoside forms (narirutin and hesperidin) and instead, increased flavanone aglycoside forms (naringenin and hesperetin). During adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with CU or CU-C at a dose of 0.5 mg/ml. Adipocyte differentiation was inhibited in CU-C group, but not in CU group. CU-C markedly suppressed the insulin-induced protein expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) as well as the mRNA levels of $CEBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c). Both CU and CU-C groups significantly increased the adipolytic activity with the higher release of free glycerol than those of control group in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CU-C is particularly superior in suppression of adipogenesis, whereas CU-C has similar effect to CU on stimulation of lipolysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that bioconversion of Citrus unshiu peel extracts with cytolase enhances aglycoside flavonoids and improves the anti-adipogenic metabolism via both inhibition of key adipogenic transcription factors and induction of adipolytic activity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.369-378
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• 2023

Smilax sieboldii is one of the Smilax species. A number of Smilax plants have multiple physiologically-active components and anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant effects. Antiobesity effects induced by Smilax sieboldii have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of anti-obesity activity of 70% ethanol Smilax sieboldii extract (SSE). The anti-obesity effect of SSE was determined using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We confirmed that SSE was not cytotoxic to murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we evaluated SSE dose-dependently decreased the accumulation of lipids via an Oil Red O assay and triglyceride assay. These anti-obesity activities of SSE were mediated by the inhibition of adipogenesis-related marker genes (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α, and SREBP1c) and lipogenesis-related marker genes (fatty acid synthase and aP2). These results suggest that SSE has the potential to exert anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia effects by regulating adipogenic transcription factors and inhibiting the expression of adipogenic markers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.448-458
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• 2021

Purpose: Mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit is widely grown in Asia and consumed as fresh fruit, jam, and juices. The fruit has beneficial health effects, including anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, and anti-obesity properties. However, the mechanisms by which mulberry fruit juice powder (MJ) regulates inflammatory microRNAs (miRs) are not yet known. This study investigated the effect of mulberry fruit juice powder on the regulation of inflammation and miR-132/143 during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Methods: The 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate for 2 days and then treated with various concentrations of MJ for 7 days. Cytotoxicity was determined by evaluating cell viability using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt-8 assay kit. Intracellular lipid accumulation was evaluated by oil-red O staining. The levels of the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and inflammation, and miR-132/143 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions. Results: MJ showed no cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 adipocytes at concentrations below 100 ng/mL. Intracellular lipid accumulation was reduced by MJ treatment at concentrations of 100 ng/mL. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of proliferator-activated receptor-γ, cytosine-cytosine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine/enhancer-binding protein-α, and adipocyte protein 2, which are involved in adipogenesis, were suppressed by MJ. A reduction was also seen in mRNA levels of genes related to the inflammatory response, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The expression of the inflammatory miR-132 and miR-143 was also decreased by MJ. Conclusion: These results suggest that MJ may suppress adipogenesis and inflammation through the regulation of miR-132/143 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Thus, MJ may be useful as a food agent that prevents obesity-associated inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 2020

Objectives: To expand and provide information on the efficacy of herbal medicines, anti-obesity effects were evaluated. In many studies, plant-derived components with anti-obesity efficacies have been investigated for their potential inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of 65 herbal medicine in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Methods: Preferentially, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 65 herbal medicines (500 ㎍/mL) during differentiation for 8 days. Next, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with selected herbal medicines at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200 ㎍/mL during differentiation for 8 days. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining. The expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Results: Among the 65 kinds of herbal medicines, 13 herbal medicines that been shown to be effective against the accumulation of lipid droplets were selected. Finally, selected Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang showed inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation at 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without affecting cell toxicity. In addition, Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang significantly reduced the expression levels of several adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α. Conclusions : These results suggest that the ability of Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasimtang has inhibited overall adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. Banhasasim-tang and Samhwangsasim-tang may be a promising medicine for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2022

Obesity is one of the metabolic diseases caused by excessive differentiation and accumulation of adipose tissue due to an imbalance between energy intake and consumption. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of SliMax, a natural-derived 6 compounds mixture, by using 3T3-L1 cells. As a result, SliMax showed the inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation through down-regulation of the PPARγ and C/EBPα expression, which are known to regulate the late adipogenesis stage. In the process of lipolysis on differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, SliMax accelerated decomposition of large-sized unilocular lipid droplet into numerous small-sized multilocular lipid droplets through up-regulation of the expression of lipolysis-related proteins ATGL and HSL. Finally, in order to confirm the effect of SliMax on induction of brown adipocyte, the expression of UCP-1 and the amount of mitochondria were confirmed by immunofluorescent staining, and as a result, SliMax increased the expression of UCP-1 and the amount of mitochondria in fat cells. Taken together, those results suggest that SliMax, a naturally-derived mixture, have a potential to be anti-obesity agent through exerting inhibitory effect on the formation of lipid droplet by suppression of adipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis, and browning effect associated with generation of heat energy and energy consumption.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.765-771
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• 2018

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) is a key transcription factor that regulates adipogenesis, and epigenetic control of $PPAR{\gamma}$ is of great interest in obesity-inhibition research. Our previous study showed that CACUL1 (CDK2-associated cullin domain 1) acts as a corepressor that inhibits $PPAR{\gamma}$ transcriptional activity and adipocyte differentiation. Here, we investigated the roles of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a novel binding partner of CACUL1, in regulating $PPAR{\gamma}$. The interaction between PRMT5 and CACUL1 was shown by immunoprecipitation assay in vivo and GST pulldown assay in vitro. As shown by luciferase reporter assay, PRMT5 and CACUL1 cooperated to inhibit the transcriptional activity of $PPAR{\gamma}$. The suppressive role of PRMT5 in adipogenesis was examined by Oil Red O staining using 3T3-L1 cells, which stably overexpress or deplete PRMT5. Overexpression of PRMT5 suppresses $PPAR{\gamma}$-mediated adipogenesis, whereas PRMT5 knockdown increases lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Consistently, PRMT5 attenuates the expression of Lpl and aP2, the target genes of $PPAR{\gamma}$, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR analysis. Overall, these results suggest that PRMT5 interacts with CACUL1 to impair the transcriptional activity of $PPAR{\gamma}$, leading to the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, the regulation of PRMT5 enzymatic activity may provide a clue to develop an anti-obesity drug.