1’‐Acetoxychavicol acetate inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes and in high fat‐fed rats (1045.7)

Abstract

The compound 1’‐acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), which is naturally obtained from the rhizomes and seeds of Languas galangal and Alpinia galangal, is the pungent component of galangal and has various biological properties, including anti‐inflammatory, anti‐allergic and antitumor properties. In this study, we investigated the anti‐obesity effects of ACA in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes and in a high fat diet (HFD)‐induced rat model of obesity.ACA caused a significant decrease in the activity of glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes without eliciting cell cytotoxicity, and it inhibited cellular lipid accumulation through the down‐regulation of transcription factors such as PPARγ and C/EBPα. ACA also induced a dose‐dependent phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK). In the animal model, rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA gained less weight than rats fed an HFD alone. The visceral fat mass in rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA tended to be lower than that in rats fed an HFD alone. Furthermore, a histological examination of livers from rats fed an HFD showed steatohepatitis. However, rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA showed no histopathological changes in the liver tissue.Our results show that ACA exerts anti‐obesity activities both in vitro and in vivo and suggests that ACA may have a novel preventive activity against obesity and possibly other metabolic diseases.