Abstract
Euglena gracilis Z (Euglena) is a unicellular, photosynthesizing, microscopic green alga. It contains several nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, to verify the potential role of Euglena consumption on human health and obesity, we evaluated the effect of Euglena on human adipose-derived stem cells. We prepared a Euglena extract and evaluated its effect on cell growth and lipid accumulation, and found that cell growth was promoted by the addition of the Euglena extract. Interestingly, intracellular lipid accumulation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis and western blotting analysis indicated that the Euglena extract suppressed adipocyte differentiation by inhibiting the gene expression of the master regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and one of three CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα). Further Oil Red O staining experiments indicated that the Euglena extract inhibited the early stage of adipocyte-differentiation. Consistent with these results, we observed that down-regulation of gene expression was involved in the early stage of adipogenesis represented by the sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 c (SREBP1c), two of three CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ), and the cAMP regulatory element-binding protein (CREB). Taken together, these data suggest that Euglena extract is a promising candidate for the development of a new therapeutic treatment for obesity.
Highlights
Obesity is an abnormal health condition in which body fat is excessively accumulated [1, 2]
To verify the effects of Euglena on cytotoxicity and lipid accumulation in human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs), it was considered that dissolving Euglena dry powder into the culture would have been convenient for estimating its effects, but the dry powder could not be dissolved into the cultures
The hASCs used in this study exhibited this characteristic in the presence or absence of Euglena extract in D/α (-) medium
Summary
Obesity is an abnormal health condition in which body fat is excessively accumulated [1, 2]. Various recent studies have reported that obesity is associated with several chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), asthma, and cardiovascular disease [3,4,5]. It was reported that there was a positive correlation between body mass index and mortality caused by those diseases [6, 7].
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