Determination of protocatechuic acid from Rubus coreanus fruits and their inhibitory effects of triglyceride accumulation on 3T3‐L1 cells

Abstract

Obesity is a serious health problem in industrialized countries because it is implicated in various diseases. With the recent increased interest in antiobesity, many investigators are interested in finding phytochemicals such as triterpenoid, essential oil, flavonoid that play a role in this adipocyte differentiation mechanism. Fruits of black raspberry (Rubus coreanus) belonging to the Rosaceae family has been used for centuries as a traditional alternative medicine. This study was investigated determination of protocatechuic acid and their effects of TG accumulation on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3‐L1cells. From this extract fractionated with petroleum ether (A1) and MtBE (A2). We used HPLC to determine the level of protocatechulic acid in A2 fraction from Rubus coreanus. The protocatechulic acid in A2 fraction from Rubus coreanus were confirmed by comparison of the retention times and UV spectra of the samples with those of standard compounds. Thousand ppm of A2 fraction from Rubus coreanus contained 76.64 μM of protocatechulic acid. Anti‐adipogenic effects of A2 fraction from Rubus coreanus were investigated by measuring cell viability and differentiation in 3T3‐L1cells. Treatment of 3T3‐L1 cells with A2 fraction of Rubus coreanus decreased cell viability in time‐dependently. And treatment of A2 fraction inhibited lipid accumulation on adipocytes by 28.8% in 100ug/ml. We also found that containing compounds exerted inhibitory activity in the adipocyte differentiation in this study. Protocatechuic acid which is contained in A2 fraction form Rubus coreanus inhibited lipid accumulation on adipocyte by 26.8 % in 10ug/ml. Thus, Rubus coreanus is a possible candidate for regulating lipid accumulation in obesity.