Abstract
A standardized extract of the plant Caralluma fimbriata (Slimaluma?) is widely used in the management of obesity but its mode of action is not yet clarified. This study investigated the ability of Caralluma fimbriata extract (CFE) to modify pre-adipocyte cell division and thus the development of hyper-plastic obesity. Mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell line samples were treated with different concentrations of an extract of CFE standardized against its pregnane glycoside content. Plain medium formed the negative control and hydroxyurea was the positive control. The cells were counted at 12-hour intervals, and their viability tested using the MTT assay. The treated cells were subjected to direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays for cyclin D1. CFE inhibited 3T3-L1 cell growth in a dose and duration-dependent manner, with results comparable to those produced by hydroxyurea. The viability of CFE-treated cells was reduced. Direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays demonstrated that CFE inhibits import of cyclin D1into the nucleus. CFE appears to inhibit pre-adipocyte cell division by interfering with a mechanism preceding the import of cyclin D1-CDk4/6 complex into the nucleus during the early G1 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that CFE has the potential to inhibit hyperplastic obesity.
Highlights
Obesity is a critical topic in public health and preventive medicine and recognized as a 21st century pandemic [1]
This study investigated the ability of Caralluma fimbriata extract (CFE) to modify pre-adipocyte cell division and the development of hyper-plastic obesity
In cells treated with CFE, cell growth was inhibited with all concentrations of the drug, in a dose- and time-dependent manner
Summary
Obesity is a critical topic in public health and preventive medicine and recognized as a 21st century pandemic [1]. Current research focuses on ways to increase lipolysis and fat oxidation, and to reduce lipogenesis, adipocyte size, and the differentiation and proliferation of pre-adipocytes [6,7,8]. Adipocyte size is reduced by lipolysis but adipocyte numbers are maintained, facilitating subsequent weight regain. Since degree of obesity is linked to adipocyte numbers, inhibiting differentiation and proliferation of pre-adipocytes is an interesting therapeutic strategy [6,7]. They may be safer (if derived from food plants) than pharmaceuticals [9,10,11], as evidenced by the documented pharmacology of Hoodia [12] and capsiate [13]
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