The root extract of Angelica gigas Nakai promotes adipogenic differentiation via activation of the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3‐L1 cells (854.6)

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a key transcription factor and plays an important role in the regulation of genes involved in adipogenic differentiation, glucose metabolism and insulin signal transduction. In this study, the effects of the root extract of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) on the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and the possible mechanism of glucose transport were investigated. Post‐confluent 3T3‐L1 cells were differentiated in the presence or absence of AGN (up to 400μg). Oil red O staining showed that AGN extract significantly enhanced adipocyte differentiation in a dose dependent manner. GPDH activity as well as intracellular lipid accumulation was significantly increased by the AGN treatment. RT‐PCR and Western Blot analysis showed that AGN increased cell differentiation by upregulating the expression of PPARγ dose dependently. AGN also promoted glucose transport by increasing the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT‐4), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) and insulin receptor substrates‐1 (IRS‐1). Our results suggest that AGN extract may be a potential therapeutic agent for managing T2D by promoting the differentiation of adipocytes via the upregulation of PPARγ levels and the activation of the insulin signaling pathway.