Abstract
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (sorrel) has been widely used in the development of tropical beverages and folk medicine. This study’s objective was to investigate the anti-obesity potential of sorrel calyx extracts (methanol and water) on 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. Phytochemical content, antioxidant potential as DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and enzyme (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase) inhibitory activities were determined in sorrel methanol extracts (SME) and sorrel water extracts (SWE). Effect of SWE and SME on lipid accumulation, lipolysis and apoptosis were tested in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and maintenance stage of cells at selected concentrations (200 - 1000 μg/ml) was studied. The total phenolic (GAE mg/100g dry weight) and total flavonoid (mg catechin equi/ 100g dry weight) contents in SME and SWE were 158.31 and 317.27 and 90.77 and 100.08. DPPH% inhibition (IC-50-mg/ml) and FRAP (mmol Fe [II]/100g dry weight) were 0.82 and 0.33 and 1799.13 and 2296.38 for SWE and SME, respectively. SME and SWE inhibited α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase activities by more than 40% at 4mg/ml. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction in lipid accumulation and increased glycerol release in 3T3-L1 cells was observed at concentrations ranged from 600 mg/ml of both extracts. Treating cells with SME-1000 μg/ml at differentiation resulted inhibition (p < 0.05) of lipid accumulation by 45% compared to untreated cells. Highest (p < 0.05) (35%) decrease in triglyceride content as well as higher glycerol release was seen in cells exposed to SME at the differentiation stage. Sorrel extracts induced apoptosis in adipocytes at higher concentrations with prominent effect of treating cells at differentiation stage. The results of this study showed effect of sorrel extracts in reduction of lipid accumulation and increase in lipolysis of 3T3-L1 cells.
Highlights
Obesity has become one of the greatest threats to global health with studies showing a strong association between obesity and increased risk of developing metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes [1]
Results from the present study suggest that both sorrel methanol extracts (SME) and sorrel water extracts (SWE) played a critical role in preventing adipogenesis and the accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 cells treated at the differentiation and maintenance stages
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. contains bioactive compounds that are important in modulating obesity through anti-oxidant related mechanisms and inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells
Summary
Obesity has become one of the greatest threats to global health with studies showing a strong association between obesity and increased risk of developing metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes [1]. Obesity is characterized by an increase in the level of lipid stores, changes in systemic energy and adipocyte metabolism [2]. Hyperplasia results in the formation of new adipocytes from precursor cells, the preadipocytes while hypertrophy, leads to increase in lipid accumulation in the adipocytes [4]. The exploration of natural compounds for the treatment of obesity and development of safe anti-obesity drugs has dramatically increased [5]. Natural bioactive components such as plant extracts have been found to contain medicinal properties such as potential for inducing apoptosis and inhibiting adipogenesis in adipocyte cells [6]
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