scholarly journals Crocetin Isolated from the Natural Food Colorant Saffron Reduces Intracellular Fat in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1648
Author(s):  
Elena Jiménez-Ortega ◽  
Aitana Braza-Boïls ◽  
Miguel Burgos ◽  
Natalia Moratalla-López ◽  
Manuel Vicente ◽  
...  

Saffron, as a food colorant, has been displaced by low-cost synthetic dyes. These have unhealthy properties; thus, their replacement with natural food colorants is an emerging trend. Obesity is a worldwide health problem due to its associated comorbidities. Crocetin esters (crocins) are responsible for the red saffron color. Crocetin (CCT) exhibits healthful properties. We aimed to broaden the existing knowledge on the health properties of CCT isolated from saffron, to facilitate its consideration as a healthy natural food colorant in the future. We evaluated the ability of CCT (1 and 5 μM) to reduce lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Intracellular fat was quantified by Oil Red O staining. CTT cytotoxicity was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The number and size of lipid droplets were analyzed using WimLipid software. The expression of adipogenic genes (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPβ, C/EBPδ, C/EBPα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)) was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). CCT 5 μM decreased intracellular fat by 22.6%, without affecting viability or lipid droplet generation, via a decrease in C/EBPα expression, implicated in lipid accumulation. Thus, CCT is a potential candidate to be included in dietary therapies aimed at reversing adipose tissue accumulation in obesity.

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3657
Author(s):  
Min-Hee Gwon ◽  
Young-Sun Im ◽  
A-Reum Seo ◽  
Kyoung Yun Kim ◽  
Ha-Rin Moon ◽  
...  

This study concerns obesity-related atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation. We studied the anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerosis effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and explored their underlying mechanisms. We established an animal model of high fat/cholesterol-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice fed for 13 weeks. We divided the mice into five groups: control (CON), high fat/cholesterol (HFCD), HFCD with 3 mg/kg/day gallic acid (HFCD + G), and HFCD with PEITC (30 and 75 mg/kg/day; HFCD + P30 and P75). The body weight, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly lower in the HFCD + P75 group than in the HFCD group. Hepatic lipid accumulation and atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta were significantly lower in both HFCD + PEITC groups than in the HFCD group, as revealed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. To elucidate the mechanism, we identified the expression of genes related to inflammation, reverse cholesterol transport, and lipid accumulation pathway in the liver. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), liver-X-receptor α (LXR-α), and ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) were increased, while those of scavenger receptor A (SR-A1), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were decreased in the HFCD + P75 group compared with those in the HFCD group. Moreover, PEITC modulated H3K9 and H3K27 acetylation, H3K4 dimethylation, and H3K27 di-/trimethylation in the HFCD + P75 group. We, therefore, suggest that supplementation with PEITC may be a potential candidate for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and obesity.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1025
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alalaiwe ◽  
Jia-You Fang ◽  
Hsien-Ju Lee ◽  
Chun-Hui Chiu ◽  
Ching-Yun Hsu

Curcumin is a known anti-adipogenic agent for alleviating obesity and related disorders. Comprehensive comparisons of the anti-adipogenic activity of curcumin with other curcuminoids is minimal. This study compared adipogenesis inhibition with curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), and their underlying mechanisms. We differentiated 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of curcuminoids, to determine lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) production. The expression of adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic proteins was analyzed by Western blot. A significant reduction in Oil red O (ORO) staining was observed in the cells treated with curcuminoids at 20 μM. Inhibition was increased in the order of curcumin < DMC < BDMC. A similar trend was observed in the detection of intracellular TG. Curcuminoids suppressed differentiation by downregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), leading to the downregulation of the lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) phosphorylation was also activated by BDMC. Curcuminoids reduced the release of proinflammatory cytokines and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with BDMC showing the greatest potency. BDMC at 20 μM significantly decreased leptin by 72% compared with differentiated controls. Molecular docking computation indicated that curcuminoids, despite having structural similarity, had different interaction positions to PPARγ, C/EBPα, and ACC. The docking profiles suggested a possible interaction of curcuminoids with C/EBPα and ACC, to directly inhibit their expression.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quancai Sun ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Yukui Peng ◽  
Ruichang Gao ◽  
Ye Peng

Flubendiamide, a ryanoid class insecticide, is widely used in agriculture. Several insecticides have been reported to promote adipogenesis. However, the potential influence of flubendiamide on adipogenesis is largely unknown. The current study was therefore to determine the effects of flubendiamide on adipogenesis utilizing the 3T3-L1 adipocytes model. Flubendiamide treatment not only enhanced triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but also increased the expression of cytosine-cytosine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding protein α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-γ, two important regulators of adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, the expression of the most important regulator of lipogenesis, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, was also increased after flubendiamide treatment. Further study revealed that 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) or A769662, two Adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α activators, subverted effects of flubendiamide on enhanced adipogenesis. Together, these results suggest that flubendiamide promotes adipogenesis via an AMPKα-mediated pathway.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michinari Nakamura ◽  
Peiyong Zhai ◽  
Junichi Sadoshima

Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) lead to impaired cardiac metabolism, resulting in cardiac dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of cardiac dysfunction remain poorly understood. PPARα serves as a key regulator of fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the heart. GSK-3α, a serine/threonine kinase, was dephosphorylated at S21 and activated (2.0 fold, p<0.05) in the hearts of obese mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and ob/ob mice. To evaluate the functional significance of GSK-3α upregulation, wild-type (WT) and cardiac specific GSK-3α heterozygous knockout (cGSK-3α HKO) mice were fed a HFD for up to 14 weeks. There was no difference in the food intake or body weight change between WT and cGSK-3α HKO mice. However, cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction observed in WT mice were significantly ameliorated in cGSK-3α HKO mice after HFD feeding (8.1± 0.6 and 6.5±0.5, LVW/TL; 24.8±0.9 and 16.6±0.8, deceleration time (DT), all p<0.05). FA oxidation (FAO) (0.81 fold) and ectopic lipid accumulation (Oil Red O staining) were significantly decreased in cGSK-3α HKO mice than in WT mice after HFD feeding. GSK-3α, but not GSK-3β, directly interacted with and phosphorylated PPARα at the ligand binding domain in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and in the heart. PPARα phosphorylation in the heart was significantly increased (2.1 fold, p<0.05) in response to HFD, but it was attenuated in cGSK-3α HKO mice (0.74 fold, p<0.05). Fenofibrate, a PPARα ligand, inhibited GSK-3α-induced PPARα phosphorylation (0.81 fold, p<0.05), reduced ectopic lipid accumulation, FAO (0.84 fold, p<0.05), and attenuated diastolic dysfunction (25.5±3.1 and 18.6±2.5, DT; 0.16±0.04 and 0.08±0.02, EDPVR, all p<0.05) in the heart of HFD fed mice. Collectively, these results suggest that GSK-3α increases PPARα activity through phosphorylation of PPARα, which is inhibited by Fenofibrate. Activation of GSK-3α and consequent phosphorylation of PPARα during obesity and IR could play an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Synthetic PPARα ligands inhibit GSK-3α-mediated phosphorylation of PPARα, thereby paradoxically attenuating excessive FA metabolism in cardiomyocytes.


Planta Medica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (05) ◽  
pp. 312-318
Author(s):  
Li Zhang ◽  
Rui Chen ◽  
Yujuan Ban ◽  
Jin Cai ◽  
Jingang Peng ◽  
...  

AbstractCajanonic acid A (CAA), a prenylated stilbene derivative extracted from the leaves of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), has been reported to possess inhibitory activity on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Its hypoglycemic activity in rats is comparable to that of the approved antidiabetic agent rosiglitazone. Therefore, CAA is a potential candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and a lead compound for the discovery of novel hypoglycemic drugs. To achieve a thorough understanding of the biological behavior of CAA in vivo, our current study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, distribution, and excretion of CAA in rats by UPLC-MS/MS. Chromatographic separation was performed on BEHC18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 µm). Quantification was performed under the negative ion mode by using single reaction monitoring (SRM) of the transitions of m/z 353.14 → 309.11 for CAA and m/z 269.86 → 224.11 for genistein, respectively. Standard calibration curve showed excellent linearity (r2 > 0.99) within the range of 2 – 800 ng/mL. The accuracies and precisions were within the acceptance limits (all < 20%). CAA was quickly absorbed into bloodstream and distributed rapidly and widely to various tissues. The excretion ratio of CAA in the 3 main pathways via bile, feces, and urine was only 5.17%. These results indicate that CAA was quickly and thoroughly metabolized in vivo and excreted mainly as metabolites.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Hong-liang Rui ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Li-jun Sun ◽  
Hong-rui Dong ◽  
...  

Podocyte injury critically contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG). Recently, lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses have been found to be involved in podocyte injury. This study is to explore their role and relationship in podocyte injury of ORG. In animal experiments, the ORG mice developed proteinuria, podocyte injury, and hypertriglyceridemia, accompanied with deregulated lipid metabolism, renal ectopic lipid deposition, activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and secretion of IL-1β of the kidney. The expression of adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP), CD36, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in renal tissue were increased. In in vitro cell experiments, after cultured podocytes were stimulated with leptin, similar to ORG mice, we found aggravated podocyte injury, formatted lipid droplet, increased expression of ADRP and CD36, activated NLRP3 inflammasome, and released IL-1β. In addition, after blocking CD36 with inhibitor sulfo-N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO) or CD36 siRNA, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and release of IL-1β are downregulated, and podocyte injury was alleviated. However, after blocking NLRP3 with MCC950, although podocyte injury was alleviated and release of IL-1β was decreased, there was no change in the expression of CD36, ADRP, and intracellular lipid droplets. Taken together, our study suggests that CD36-mediated lipid accumulation and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome may be one of the potential pathogeneses of ORG podocyte injury.


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