Sargassum micracanthum, brown algae, inhibitslipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during differentiation of 3T3‐L1preadipocytes

Abstract

Obesity is characterized by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from precursor cells, preadipocytes. Recently, increased ROS production in 3T3‐L1 adipocyte facilitates adipocyte differentiation and fat development. This study was to investigate whether reduced ROS production by Sargassum micracanthum extract could protect the development of obesity through inhibition of adipogenesis. The extent of differentiation reflected by amount of lipid accumulation and ROS production was determined by Oil red O staining and NBT assay. Treatment of Sargassum micracanthum extract significantly inhibited ROS production and adipocyte differentiation that is depend on NADPH oxidase (NOX4), a major ROS generator, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), a key adipogenic transcription factor. These results indicate that Sargassum micracanthum extract can inhibit adipogenesis through a reduced ROS level that involves down‐regulation of NOX4 expression or via modulation of adipogenic transcription factor.