• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.342-354
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• 2021

Purpose: Obesity is a serious public health issue for the modern society and is considered a chronic health hazard. There are many surgical and pharmacological approaches to treat obesity. However, various potentially hazardous side effects remain the biggest challenge. Therefore, diets based on foods derived from natural products have gained increasing attention compared to anti-obesity drugs. Recently, research on edible insects as a food source has been a topic of considerable interest in the scientific communities. This study examined the anti-obesity effects of ingesting an edible insect by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse models with a diet containing Tenebrio molitor larvae powder (TMLP). Methods: Six-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups according to treatment: 100% normal diet (ND), 100% HFD (HFD), HFD 99% + TMLP 1% (TMLP), and HFD 97% + TMLP 3% (TMLP 3%). TMLP was added to the HFD for 6 weeks for the latter two groups. Results: Compared to the HFD group, mice in the TMLP group showed weight loss, and micro-computed tomographic imaging revealed that the volume of the adipose tissue in the abdominal area also showed significant reduction. After an autopsy, the fat weight was found to be significantly reduced in the TMLP group compared to the HFD group. In addition, the degree of fat cell deposition in the liver tissue and the size of the adipocytes significantly decreased in the TMLP group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis for the mRNA expression of adipogenesis-related genes namely CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP-β, C/EBP-δ), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) showed that the expression levels of these genes were significantly reduced in the TMLP group compared to the HFD group. Serum leptin level also decreased significantly in the TMLP group in the comparison with the HFD group. In addition, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels in mouse serum also decreased in the TMLP group. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showed that TMLP effectively inhibited adipocyte growth and reduced body weight in obese mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate antioxidant characteristics and anti-adipogenic effects of colored rice and brown rice extracts in 3T3-L1 adipocyte depending on cultivar (Josaengheugchal, Heugjinmi, Hongjinju, Geongganghongmi, Seolgaeng, Milyang 320, Sindongjin, Baegjinju). Colored rice and brown rice was extracted with 100% ethanol, followed by the analysis of polyphenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, antioxidant, and anti-adipogenic activity. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content ranged from 6.86~314.08 mg GAE/g and 1.47~56.88 mg CE/g the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid content was observed in Heugjinmi cultivar. Anthocyanin composition was analyzed by HPLC, cyanidin-3-gluoside and peonidin-3-glucoside was found in black rice including Josaengheugchal and Heugjinmi. Also, the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity of colored rice cultivars was higher than that of brown rice cultivars, the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity also was observed in Heugjinmi (128.20 mg TE/g). The anti-adipogenic effects of colored rice and brown rice extracts on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes evaluated that extracts of Heugjinmi cultivar significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation. These results provide valuable information for the use of Korean colored rice cultivar as a functional food materials relative to anti-obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.209-214
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• 2019

Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh is a marine brown algae widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic effects. In this study, we determined the effects of ethanol extract of Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh (EESH) on anti-obesity activities in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results indicated that treatment with EESH decreased the 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. The concentrations of cellular triglycerides were also reduced in 3T3-L1 cells after treatment with EESH. Triglyceride content was inhibited by 13%, 16%, and 23% after treatment with 250, 500, and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of EESH in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that EESH suppressed adipogenic transcription factor expression in a dose dependent manner. Specifically, it suppressed cytidine-cytidine-adinosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT) /enhancer binding proteins $(C/EBP){\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$. This indicated that EESH could control the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and inhibit the differentiation of adipocytes. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that EESH showed anti-obesity effects and could have potential uses in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.505-514
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• 2014

To examine the anti-obese activity of miscellaneous cereal grains, 80% ethanol extracts from eight selected miscellaneous cereal grains were compared for their cytotoxic effects on 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes. The ethanol extract of proso millet exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. Further fractionation of the ethanol extract with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol showed that the cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract was mainly partitioned into the butanol fraction. As compared with differentiated mature adipocytes, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were more susceptible to the cyctotoxicity of the butanol fraction. When each organic solvent fraction (25 ${\mu}g/ml$) was added during the differentiation period for 6 days, the cell viability was not affected significantly except for the butanol fraction, but the intracellular lipid accumulation declined to a level of 81.5%~50.3% of the control. The Oil Red O staining data also demonstrated that the ethanol extract as well as the butanol fraction could inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. The presence of the butanol extract during the induced adipocytic differentiation also resulted in a significant reduction in the expression levels of critical adipogenesis mediators $(C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, and LPL) to a barely detectable or undetectable level and the cells retained the fibroblast-like morphology of 3T3-L1. In 3T3-L1 cells, the cytotoxicity of the butanol fraction (50-100 ${\mu}g/ml$) was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) loss, caspase-3 activation, and PARP degradation. Taken together, these results indicate that proso millet grains possess pro-apoptotic and anti-adipocytic activities toward adipocytes, which can be applicable to prevention of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.356-363
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• 2013

Clinical and preclinical trials of involving drugs with anti-obesity effects have focused on screening for herbal medicines suspected to have anti-obesity activities. In this study, an extract of Aster scaver Thunb., which was prepared in 80% methanol (ASE), was assessed for its total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity ability to scavenge the ${\alpha}-{\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid radical, and anti-adipogenic effects. The anti-adipogenic effect of ASE on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes to adipocytes was investigated by assaying the suppression of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation by using western blot analysis and the Oil Red-O assay, respectively. The staining results showed that ASE significantly inhibited 3T3-L1. Western blot analysis results showed that ASE decreased the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c. These results demonstrate that ASE directly inhibits the differentiation of preadipocytes, and might be an important adjunct in the therapeutic efforts to reduce adipogenesis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.389-398
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate anti-obesity activity of Cirsium setidens Nakai test material (CNTM) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obese C57BL/6J mice fed with a high-fat diet using various obesity-related in vitro experiments. During adipocyte differentiation, CNTM significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and ROS production compared to controls. To evaluate whether CNTM could exert glycerol release effects on mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we treated cells with various concentrations of CNTM for 1 h. Treatment of mature adipocytes with $160-320{\mu}g/mL$ of CNTM increased the release of glycerol, but not in a significant dose-dependent manner. Anti-adipogenic and anti-lipogenic effects of CNTM seemed to be mediated by the inhibition of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$. Moreover, CNTM stimulated fatty acid oxidation in an AMPK-dependent manner. CNTM-treated groups of C57BL/6J mice showed reduced body weights and adipose tissue weight with improving serum lipid profiles and adiponectin protein expression in obese C57BL/6J mice fed with a high-fat diet. These results suggest that CNTM might have anti-obesity effect on adipogenesis and lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo. This presents the possibility of developing a treatment for obesity using nontoxic natural resources.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.716-728
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• 2023

The anti-adipogenic activity of Glycyrrhiza uralensis was investigated by examining the effects of its ethanol extract (GUE) on a mouse model with a high-fat diet (HFD) and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes during adipocyte differentiation. GUE administration for eight weeks significantly reduced weight gain in mice fed an HFD. GUE effectively inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and lipid droplet accumulation. This inhibitory effect is associated with the downregulation of key adipogenic regulators, including PPARγ and C/EBPα, and the modulation of adipose metabolism regulators, such as Fasn and Fabp4. LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis identified twelve phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including liquiritigenin and licorice saponin, in the GUE. These findings demonstrate that the anti-obesity effect of the GUE is attributed to the biological activity of its phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Therefore, the GUE has potential anti-obesity activity. Moreover, further studies on the isolation of bioactive components from the GUE and the investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the GUE are required to establish its efficacy in metabolic disorders, including obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 2009

Selenium was investigated using human origin preadipocytes to see whether it possesses preventive or therapeutic effects for obesity. Unveiling the potential of selenium in the reduction of adipogenesis can help predict the therapeutic capabilities of selenium in obesity. In the present study, the molecular mechanism of the inhibition of adipogenesis by selenium was explored to unravel the involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase. There is emerging evidence that AMPK, a sensor of cellular energy status, is a possible molecular target of controlling adipocyte differentiation on the basis of discovery that AMPK is responsible for the major metabolic responses to exercise, and integration of nutritional and hormonal signals to modulate feeding behavior or energy expenditure in the hypothalamus. Treatment of selenium resulted in inhibition of the adipocyte differentiation process and induction of mature apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We hypothesized that selenium may exert anti-adipogenic potential though modulating AMPK. We have found that selenium significantly activated AMPK and phosphorylated its substrate acetyl-CoA carboxylase ($ACC-serine^{79}$) during the inhibitory process of adipocytes. Also, the inhibition process of adipocyte differentiation by selenium was comparable to either reveratrol or a synthetic AMPK activator, AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-${\beta}$-D-ribofuranoside). To evaluate the involvement of AMPK in anti-lipogensis, we applied AICAR and Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, to 3T3-L1-adipocytes and found that AMPK is required for the adipocyte differentiation blocking process. These results suggest that selenium has a potential to control adipogenesis and that this effect is mediated by AMPK, an essential kinase for both inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and apoptosis of mature adipocytes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.411-416
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• 2013

This study aimed to examine the mechanisms underlying the effects of Garcinia cambogia extract on the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and long-chain saturated fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity of HepG2 cells. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, mouse embryonic fibroblast-adipose like cell line, were treated with MDI solution (0.5 mM IBMX, 1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone, 10 ${\mu}g/mL$ insulin) to generate a cellular model of adipocyte differentiation. Using this cellular model, the anti-obesity effect of Garcinia cambogia extract was evaluated. MDI-induced lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenesis-related genes were detected by Oil red O staining, Nile Red staining, and Western blot analysis. Effects Garcinia cambogia extract on palmitate-induced lipotoxicity was also analyzed by MTT assay, LDH release, and DAPI staining in HepG2 cells. Garcinia cambogia extract significantly suppressed the adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes and intracellular lipid accumulation in the differentiating adipocytes. Garcinia cambogia extract also markedly inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor ${\gamma}2$ ($PPAR{\gamma}2$), CCAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and adipocyte protein aP2 (aP2). In addition, Garcinia cambogia extract significantly attenuated palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Palmitateinduced cellular damage and reactive aldehydes were also significantly reduced in the presence of Garcinia cambogia extract. These findings suggest that the Garcinia cambogia extract inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, probably by regulating the expression of multiple genes associated with adipogenesis such as $PPAR{\gamma}2$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, aP2, and thereby modulating fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity to reduce cellular injury in hepatocytes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.291-294
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• 2010

In obesity, adipocytes undergo abnormal growth characterized by increased cell numbers and differentiation. Thus, inhibition of mitogenesis of preadipocytes and their differentiation to adipocytes would be beneficial for the prevention and progression of obesity. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate antiadipogenic activity of adlay (Coix seed, the seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) employing preadipocytes cell line, 3T3-L1 as an in vitro assay system. Because several varieties of adlay are in use in Korea, anti-adipogenic activity of three varieties of adlay such as Sang-Gang, Jo-Hyun and Yulmu-Ilho was evaluated. All the three varieties of adlay showed significant inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil Red O staining. Adlay, however, showed little effects on adipocyte proliferation. Further studies with interval treatment demonstrated that adlay exerted inhibitory activity on adipocyte differentiation via acting on early stage of adipogenesis. Taken together, adlay might be useful in the prevention of obesity.