Abstract
Neferine, an alkaloid component extracted from lotus seed embryos, is known for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. However, the anti-adipogenic activity of neferine has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, neferine was found to inhibit lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells without inducing cytotoxicity. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analysis revealed the downregulation in the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) and the upregulation in carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels following neferine treatment. Furthermore, neferine increased the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), which is an important regulator of fatty acid oxidation. Our result indicates that neferine attenuates adipogenesis and promotes lipid metabolism by activating AMPK-mediated signaling. Therefore, neferine may serve as a therapeutic candidate for obesity treatment.
Highlights
The prevalence of obesity, one of the biggest health problems among all age groups, is increasing worldwide [1,2]
In comparison with control cells, those treated with neferine (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 μM) showed a significant decrease in lipid content in a dosedependent manner (Figure 2B). These results demonstrated that neferine was involved in the inhibition of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation and lipid accumulation
Lipid droplet accumulation and preadipocytes differentiation into mature adipocytes are regarded as the hallmark events in obesity [32,34]
Summary
The prevalence of obesity, one of the biggest health problems among all age groups, is increasing worldwide [1,2]. Obesity is characterized by the excessive accumulation of adipocytes, leading to a rise in body weight. It is a critical predictor of numerous comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance-related diabetes, cancer, and depression [4,5,6]. Common weight loss cures in obese individuals include diets, physical activity, behavioral therapies, and pharmacological treatments [7]. Anti-obesity drugs involved in weight regulation are known to exert harmful side-effects, including headache and blood pressure abnormalities [8,9]. Studies have been directed to investigate the potential role of plants to treat obesity and related metabolic disorders and to elucidate their beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism [10]
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