• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.613-617
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipogenesis is part of the cell differentiation process in which undifferentiated fibroblasts (pre-adipocytes) become mature adipocytes with the accumulation of lipid droplets and subsequent cell morphological changes. Several transcription factors and food components have been suggested to be involved in adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether mulberry leaf ethanol extract (MLEE) affects adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: The 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different doses of MLEE for 8 days starting 2 days post-confluence. Cell viability, fat accumulation, and adipogenesis-related factors including CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), $PPAR{\gamma}$ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and adiponectin were analyzed. RESULTS: Results showed that MLEE treatments at 10, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$ had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evident toxicity, all MLEE treated cells had lower fat accumulation compared with control as shown by lower absorbances of Oil Red O stain. MLEE at 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ significantly reduced protein levels of $PPAR{\gamma}$, PGC-$1{\alpha}$, FAS, and adiponectin in differentiated adipocytes. Furthermore, protein level of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ was significantly decreased by the treatment of $100{\mu}g/ml$ MLEE. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that MLEE treatment has an anti-adipogenic effect in differentiated adipocytes without toxicity, suggesting its potential as an anti-obesity therapeutic.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.503-510
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a water extract of L. cladonioides (LC) has an anti-obesity effect in 3T3-L1 cells and obese mice. Treatment of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with LC caused a significant increase in glycerol release and reduced the protein expression of the adipogenic transcription factors, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/$EBP{\alpha}$. In an animal model, obese mice were artificially induced by a high fat diet for 10 weeks. Experimental groups were treated with LC (100 mg/kg/day) by gavage for the next 10 weeks. At the end of experiment, the body weight of the LC group mice was reduced by 14.2% compared to the high fat diet (HFD) group. The treatment also decreased liver (31.0%), epididymal (18.0%) and retroperitoneal (19.3%) adipose tissue, and kidney (6.7%) weights, respectively, compared with those of the HFD group. LC prevented diet-induced increases in the serum level of TC (22.6%), TG (11.6%), and glucose (35.0%), respectively, compared with the HFD group. However, the HDL-C level was higher in the LC group (26.1%) than the HFD group. The results of this study thus suggest that LC suppressed lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenic transcription factors, and increased the amount of glycerol release. LC also indicated an anti-obese and anti-hyperlipidemic effect.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Objectives: Artemisinin and its derivatives extracted from Artemisia annua, a Chinese herbal medicine, have variable biological effects due to structural differences. Up to date, the anti-obesity effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects of DHA on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay were used to measure lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Cell count analysis was used to determine the cytotoxicity of 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to analyze the expression of protein and mRNA in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Results: DHA at 5 μM markedly inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, DHA at 5 μM inhibited the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and perilipin A as well as the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, while DHA at 5 μM had no effect on the mRNA expression of adiponectin, it strongly suppressed that of leptin in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. However, DHA at 5 μM had no lipolytic effect on differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, as assessed by no enhancement of glycerol release. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that DHA at 5 μM has a strong anti-adipogenic effect on differentiating 3T3-L1 cells through the reduced expression and phosphorylation of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, FAS, perilipin A, and STAT-3.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2011

Natural products in Chonnam, Korea were screened via anti-angiogenesis experiments, and 1 candidate product was identified, Corni fructus, which exerted dose-dependent inhibitory effects against angiogenesis, adipogenesis, and cell adhesion. C. fructus extract (CFE) exhibits an angiogenesis inhibitory effect superior to that of the EGCG from green tea leaves. The expression level of angiogenesis and adipogenesis-related signal molecules in the western blotting was reduced by increasing the amount of added CFE. Moreover, a diet supplemented with CFE was deemed more effective in inducing weight loss in LB mice than a representative synthetic diet drug, orlistat, which incidently caused the side effect of denuding the mice of their hair. These results indicate that C. fructus may prove to be a useful anti-adipogenic compound, and these in vitro results may be reflected later under in vivo conditions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation, while nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD characterized by hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, and liver injury, resulting in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given the evidence that ginseng and its major bioactive components, ginsenosides, have potent anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrogenic effects, the pharmacological effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on NAFLD and NASH is noteworthy. Furthermore, numerous studies have successfully demonstrated the protective effect of ginseng on these diseases, as well as the underlying mechanisms in animal disease models and cells, such as hepatocytes and macrophages. This review discusses recent studies that explore the pharmacological roles of ginseng and ginsenosides in NAFLD and NASH and highlights their potential as agents to prevent and treat NAFLD, NASH, and liver diseases caused by hepatic steatosis and inflammation.

• 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 Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1637-1643
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• 2009

Shikonin, a component of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc, exerts various characteristics such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-obesity functions. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of shikonin-induced inhibition of adipogenesis, we analyzed the mRNA expression level of various adipogenesis-related factors including C/EBPs (CCAAT/enhancerbinding proteins) and $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\gamma$). The data showed that mRNA expressions of C/$EBP{\beta}$ and C/$EPB{\delta}$ were only slightly changed by shikonin treatment, but mRNA expressions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/$EPB{\alpha}$ were significantly down-regulated. Then, we tested whether upstream regulators of C/$EBP{\beta}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ were involved in anti-adipogenesis of shikonin. C/$EBP{\gamma}$ and CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein), which are upstream regulators of C/$EBP{\beta}$, were not affected by shikonin treatment. On the contrary, the mRNA level of KROX20 was markedly down-regulated by shikonin treatment. These results suggest that KROX20 might regulate downstream factors of adipogenesis through C/$EBP{\beta}$-independent pathway. The expression of KLF15 (Kruppel-like factor15), which is a member of KLF family and is a upstream regulator of $PPAR{\gamma}$, was dramatically decreased by shikonin treatment, but KLF2 was not changed. Shikonin had no impact on the expression of KLF5 in the early stage of adipogenesis, but shikonin increased expression of KLF5 in the late stage of adipogenesis. Even though mRNA expression of KLF5 was moderately changed by shikonin treatment, its effect may be small compared with the effect of KLF15, which was markedly inhibited. Taken together, these results suggest that shikonin inhibits adipogenesis through the down-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/$EPB{\alpha}$, which is mediated by the down-regulation of two pro-adipogenic factors, KROX20 and KLF15.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.693-702
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• 2023

The present study examined the rate of cell growth and differentiation potential into adipocytes in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells exposed to each adipogenic medium containing glucose metabolism hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid (GC) adrenal steroid hormone, as well as pioglitazone (PGZ), a PPARγ agonist. Following each adipogenic treatment for 2 weeks, the rate of cell growth was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited, and the level of telomerase activity was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC hormone compared with those containing each T4 or GC hormone. Moreover, the adiposome-like vesicles were highly reacted with Oil-Red O staining solution, and the levels of transcripts expressed in the differentiating adipocytes for adipogenesis, including adinopectin, leptin, and resistin, were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC hormone compared with those of the adipogenic medium containing each T4 or GC hormone, implying that adipocytic differentiation has fully occurred in the A549 cancer cells. Based on present observations, the PGZ-based adipogenic medium containing both T4 and GC efficiently induces inhibition of cell growth and cellular differentiation into adipocytes in A549 cancer cells rather than in the adipogenic medium containing only T4 or GC hormone. Adipogenic treatment could provide potential probability in cancer chemotherapy.