Antiadipogenic Effects ofAster glehniExtract: In Vivo and In Vitro Effects

Heon-Myung Lee,Kyung-Tae Lee,Tae-Gue Ahn,Gabsik Yang,Hee-Juhn Park,Wansu Park,Myung-Dong Kim,Agung Nugroho,Hyo-Jin An

doi:10.1155/2013/859624

Abstract

Aster glehni (AG) is a Korean traditional herb that grows in Ulleungdo Island, Republic of Korea. None of the several reports on AG include a determination of the effect of AG on adipogenesis. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether AG attenuates adipogenesis in mouse 3T3-L1 cells and epididymal fat tissue. AG blocked the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1c, the master regulators of adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly and equally into 4 diet groups: control diet (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with 1% AG extract added (AG1), and HFD with 5% AG extract added (AG5). The experimental animals were fed HFD and the 2 combinations for 10 weeks. Mice fed HFD with AG gained less body weight and visceral fat-pad weight than did the mice fed HFD alone. Moreover, AG inhibited the expression of important adipogenic genes such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP1c, LXR, and leptin in the epididymal adipose tissue of the mice treated with AG1 and AG5. These findings indicate antiadipogenic and antiobesity effects of AG and suggest its therapeutic potential in obesity and obesity-related diseases.

Highlights

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health; globally, excessive body weight is the fifth leading risk factor for death
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a transcription gene of the lipogenic enzyme [6], and liver X receptor (LXR) activation enhances lipogenesis [7]; leptin is a hormone secreted by adipose tissues that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite/hunger and metabolism [8]
To determine whether Aster glehni (AG) has an antiobesity effect, we carried out adipocyte differentiation using 3T3-L1 cells, both in the presence and the absence of AG

Summary

Introduction

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health; globally, excessive body weight is the fifth leading risk factor for death. Obesity is a worldwide health problem regardless of age, sex, or ethnicity and is associated with fatal diseases [2]. The differentiation to adipocyte is a complex developmental procedure that involves the coordinated interplay of numerous transcription factors [3]. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPα), which are crucial transcription factors in adipogenesis, activate the expression of other adipocyte markers [4]. Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) is important in the regulation of obesity and adipocyte differentiation [5]. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a transcription gene of the lipogenic enzyme [6], and liver X receptor (LXR) activation enhances lipogenesis [7]; leptin is a hormone secreted by adipose tissues that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite/hunger and metabolism [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion