Benzyl isothiocyanate ameliorates lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes during adipocyte differentiation

Genistein regulates adipogenesis by blocking the function of adenine nucleotide translocase-2 in the mitochondria

Genistein exerts antiadipogenic effects, but its target molecules remain unclear. Here, we delineated the molecular mechanism underlying the antiadipogenic effect of genistein. A pulldown assay using genistein-immobilized beads identified adenine nucleotide translocase-2 as a genistein-binding protein in adipocytes. Adenine nucleotide translocase-2 exchanges ADP/ATP through the mitochondrial inner membrane. Similar to the knockdown of adenine nucleotide translocase-2, genistein treatment decreased ADP uptake into the mitochondria and ATP synthesis. Genistein treatment and adenine nucleotide translocase-2 knockdown suppressed adipogenesis and increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Adenine nucleotide translocase-2 knockdown reduced the transcriptional activity of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β, whereas AMP-activated protein kinase inhibition restored the suppression of adipogenesis by adenine nucleotide translocase-2 knockdown. These results indicate that genistein interacts directly with adenine nucleotide translocase-2 to suppress its function. The downregulation of adenine nucleotide translocase-2 reduces the transcriptional activity of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, which consequently represses adipogenesis.

Functional Application of Sulfur-Containing Spice Compounds

Sulfur-containing spice compounds possess diverse biological functions and play an important role in food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. The development of functional spices has become increasingly popular, especially for medicinal functions for dietary health. Thus, this review focuses on the properties and functions of sulfur-containing spice compounds, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anticancer, antibacterial, and insecticidal functions, among others. Developments over the last five years concerning the properties of sulfur-containing spice compounds are summarized and discussed.

Benzyl Isothiocyanate Produced by Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) Prevents Accumulation of Hepatic Lipids

We determined the physiological effects of glucotropaeolin-rich lyophilized garden cress sprout powder (GC) administered to fasting and nonfasting mice. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed glucotropaeolin (57.4±1.1 mg/g dry weight) as a major phytochemical constituent of GC. Decreasing tendency in body weight and feeding efficiency ratio were detected in the group of mice fed 0.05% (w/w) GC (GC0.05). Nonfasting mice exhibited significantly lower liver weights that were unchanged after fasting. Decreased total lipid (TL) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the liver were detected in the nonfasted GC0.01 and GC0.05 groups, but only in TLs of the fasted groups. The levels of plasma TGs and nonesterified fatty acids of the GC0.05 group, which remained unchanged during nonfasting, decreased after fasting. To determine its effects on the accumulation of lipids in the liver, the glucotropaeolin aglycone, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), was added to the liver-derived HepG2 human cell line cultured in a medium containing a high concentration of D-glucose (4,500 mg/L D-glucose) (HG group) or 1 mM oleic acid (SO group). Toxicity was not detected when cells were treated with as much as 5 μM BITC; however, lipid accumulation was inhibited by BITC in a concentration-dependent manner in the HG groups. The same effect was observed when 2 μM BITC was added to the diet of the SO groups. These results suggest that moderate levels of GC or BITC are useful for reducing liver and plasma TGs.

Bioactivity-Guided Identification of Anti-Adipogenic Isothiocyanates in the Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Seed and Investigation of the Structure-Activity Relationship

Due to the side effects of obesity medications, many studies have focused on the natural products used in the daily diet to control weight. Moringa seed pods and leaves are widely used as vegetables or diet supplements due to the high nutrition value. However, no bioactivity-guided anti-adipogenic study was previously conducted. Therefore, a preadipocyte cell line was adopted as the bioactivity assay to identify the anti-adipogenic compounds in the peeled Moringa seed. Two known sulphur-containing compounds (1 and 2) were isolated and identified. Compound 2, 4-(α-l-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate, showed a great anti-adipogneic effect with an IC₅₀ value of 9.2 μg/mL. The isothiocyanate (ITC) group in compound 2 could be responsible for the inhibitory activity. In addition, a series of compounds with the ITC group were used to further investigate the structure-activity relationship, indicating foods containing ITC derivatives have the potential of being used to control weight.