Dioscorea oppositifolia plant extract reduces adipogenesis by down-regulating PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1, and FASN in 3T3L1 pro-adipocytes

Abstract

BackgroundObesity is a major problem nowadays. It is a serious chronic disease associated with increased risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, gallstones, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, oxidative stress, and inflammation-based pathologies in the human population. Throughout the Tropics, Dioscorea has strong ethnobotanical values. There are several accounts on the local claim on Dioscorea species worldwide. Some Dioscorea species have been investigated for their anti-obesity potential. PurposeThe study aimed to evaluate commonly used Dioscorea species for their anti-obesity potential. MethodIn the present study, four Dioscorea species were screened for anti-lipase and anti-adipogenic activity. Porcine pancreatic lipase enzyme and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with the methanolic and aqueous whole plant extracts of D. alata, D. bulbifera, D. pentaphylla, and D. oppositifolia. Both the D. pentaphylla and D. oppositifolia extracts were further evaluated for the gene expression investigation based on lipase inhibition and suppression of lipid accumulation in the cells. ResultsMethanolic and aqueous extracts of the D. pentaphylla can inhibit porcine pancreatic lipase. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of D. oppositifolia help to control adipocyte differentiation by suppressing mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), sterol regulatory element-binding protein F1 (SREBP-F1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS). They also stimulate the carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) gene, which helps in lipid degradation. ConclusionIt can be conclude that methanolic and aqueous extract of D. oppositifolia down regulates adipogenic genes PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1, and FASN, while up regulate lipolytic gene CPT-1.