Anti-Obesity Effects of Polymethoxyflavone-Rich Fraction from Jinkyool (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka) Leaf on Obese Mice Induced by High-Fat Diet

Kaempferia parviflora extract and its component polymethoxyflavones suppress adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the AMPK pathway

BACKGROUND

Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex. Baker (KP) has been reported to exhibit anti-obesity effects. However, the detailed mechanism of the anti-obesity effect of KP extract (KPE) is yet to be clarified. Here, we investigated the effect of KPE and its component polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) on the adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

KPE and PMFs fraction (2.5 µg/mL) significantly inhibited lipid and triacylglyceride accumulation in MSCs; lipid accumulation in MSCs was suppressed during the early stages of differentiation (days 0-3) but not during the mid (days 3-7) or late (days 7-14) stages. Treatment with KPE and PMFs fractions significantly suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and various adipogenic metabolic factors. Treatment with KPE and PMFs fraction induced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, and pretreatment with an AMPK signaling inhibitor significantly attenuated KPE- and PMFs fraction-induced suppression of lipid formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that KPE and PMFs fraction inhibit lipid formation by inhibiting the differentiation of undifferentiated MSCs into adipocyte lineages via AMPK signaling, and this may be the mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects of KPE and PMFs. Our study lays the foundation for the elucidation of the anti-obesity mechanism of KPE and PMFs.

An integrated multi-omics approach reveals polymethoxylated flavonoid biosynthesis in Citrus reticulata cv. Chachiensis

Citrus reticulata cv. Chachiensis (CRC) is an important medicinal plant, its dried mature peels named "Guangchenpi", has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat cough, indigestion, and lung diseases for several hundred years. However, the biosynthesis of the crucial natural products polymethoxylated flavonoids (PMFs) in CRC remains unclear. Here, we report a chromosome-scale genome assembly of CRC with the size of 314.96 Mb and a contig N50 of 16.22 Mb. Using multi-omics resources, we discover a putative caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (CcOMT1) that can transfer a methyl group to the 3-hydroxyl of natsudaidain to form 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone (HPMF). Based on transient overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing experiments, we propose that CcOMT1 is a candidate enzyme in HPMF biosynthesis. In addition, a potential gene regulatory network associated with PMF biosynthesis is identified. This study provides insights into PMF biosynthesis and may assist future research on mining genes for the biosynthesis of plant-based medicines.

The Perspectives of Plant Natural Products for Mitigation of Obesity

Obesity is a metabolic disease caused by an imbalance between energy intake and consumption, which leads to excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissues [...].

Polymethoxyflavone-rich Fraction from Citrus sunki Leaves Alleviates Renal Dysfunction in Mice with Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction

Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are flavonoid compounds present in citrus plants that are proposed to be advantageous to human health. However, the advantageous effects of PMFs in the context of renal dysfunction are unclear. In this study, we made a PMF-rich fraction (PRF) from the leaves of Citrus sunki Hort ex. Tanaka and identified its components using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. We then investigated the effect of PRF—comprising 9 types of PMF—on renal dysfunction induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice. Animals were divided into four experimental groups ( n = 7 per group): I) sham-operated group (Sham); II) UUO group (UUO); III) UUO + Enalapril 0.1 mg/1 mL (UUO + Enap); IV) UUO + PRF 100 mg/kg/day (UUO + PRF). All mice were orally administered with the drugs once a day from 7 days before UUO to 1 week after UUO. After the experiments were over, serum and tissues were taken for biochemical and histological analysis. PRF promoted the recovery of body weight in the background of UUO. Biochemical and histological analysis revealed that PRF ameliorated UUO-induced renal dysfunction and moderately reversed inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Further, PRF inhibited the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), collagen I (Col-I), and collagen IV (Col-IV). These results suggest that PRF improves UUO-induced renal dysfunction by regulating the expression of inflammatory and fibrotic response-related genes.