Abstract
Gymnema inodorum (GI) is an indigenous medicinal plant and functional food in Thailand that has recently helped to reduce plasma glucose levels in healthy humans. It is renowned for the medicinal properties of gymnemic acid and its ability to suppress glucose absorption. However, the effects of gymnemic acids on adipogenesis that contribute to the accumulation of adipose tissues associated with obesity remain unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effects of gymnemic acids derived from GI tea on adipogenesis. We purified and identified GiA-7 and stephanosides C and B from GI tea that inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. These compounds also suppressed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparγ)-dependent genes, indicating that they inhibit lipid accumulation and the early stage of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Only GiA-7 induced the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and pparγ coactivator 1 alpha (Pgc1α), suggesting that GiA-7 induces mitochondrial activity and beige-like adipocytes. This is the first finding of stephanosides C and B in Gymnema inodorum. Our results suggested that GiA-7 and stephanosides C and B from GI tea could help to prevent obesity.
Highlights
Gymnema sylvestre is a species of the genus Gymnema that is popular in India for reducing glucose levels, suppressing glucose absorption and preventing type 2 diabetes [1,2,3,4,5]
We found that compounds 2, 3, 5 and 6 among the six compounds separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from this fraction (Figure 2) significantly inhibited 3T3-L1 cell differentiation (Figure 3)
GiA-7, Stephanoside C and stephanoside B present in Gymnema inodorum (GI) tea inhibited preadipocyte differentiation by suppressing the Pparγ-dependent mechanisms. These findings suggest that consuming GI tea could play a role in the prevention of obesity
Summary
Gymnema sylvestre is a species of the genus Gymnema that is popular in India for reducing glucose levels, suppressing glucose absorption and preventing type 2 diabetes [1,2,3,4,5]. The effects of GI on glucose absorption and blood glucose levels have recently been investigated [6,7,8]. We previously found that extracts of GI leaves decreased blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [9] that comprise a popular model with which to study type 1 diabetes mellitus. About 90% of patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) which is induced by a lack of exercise and inappropriate eating habits [11]
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