Objectives: Aster spathulifolius Maxim (AS), known for its anti-viral and anti-allergic activity, is also known to reduce body weight gain in high fat diet-induced obese rats. But its molecular mechanism of the anti-obesity effects is still unclear. So, we investigated the inhibitory effect of AS extract (ASE) on adipogenesis and lipid accumulation to determine the underlying cellular molecular mechanism.
Methods: To perform this study, the contents of intracellular triglyceride were analysed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were carried out to investigate the expression of adipogenic transcriptional factors.
Key findings: ASE showed the suppression of adipogenic differentiation and the considerable reduction of the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Especially, ASE inhibited the early stage of differentiation via the downregulation of C/EBP-β and C/EBP-δ, which are early adipogenic factors. Major adipogenic factors, such as PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α, were also subsequently inhibited. These findings were supported by Oil Red O staining and intracellular triglyceride levels. A molecular mechanism liking the effect of ASE was identified through the activation of AMPKα pathway. ASE increased protein levels of phosphorylated AMPKα and phosphorylated ACC.
Conclusions: ASE showed anti-adipogenic and anti-lipogenic effects through the regulation of adipogenic factors and AMPKα pathway.
Keywords: 3T3-L1 cells; AMPKα; Aster spathulifolius maxim; PPAR-γ; adipogenesis.
© 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.