Traditional medicine yanggyuksanhwa-tang inhibits adipogenesis and suppresses proliferator-activated receptor-gamma expression in 3T3-L1 cells

Anti-obesity effect of Yangkyuksanwha-tang in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND

Yangkyuksanwha-tang (YST) is an herbal medicine based on Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) and is widely used in Korean traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of YST on obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

METHODS

We induced obesity in C57bl/6 J mice using a HFD, and then orally administered 300 mg/kg YST for 6 weeks. We measured body weight, food efficiency, organ and fat weight, serum biochemical parameters, and obesity-related gene expression, and carried out histological analysis at the end of the experimental period.

RESULTS

YST significantly reduced the absolute body weight and food efficiency ratio. The serum, aminotransferase, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the YST-treated group than in the control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in the YST-treated group was significantly higher. The YST-treated group also showed a significant reduction in regional fatty tissues and the absolute weight of various organs. We also observed a significantly reduced expression of AP2/FABP4, C/EBP-β, leptin, and SREBP1c/ADD1 mRNA, and significantly increased expression of UCP-2 and adiponectin mRNA in adipose tissue in the YST-treated group. YST also decreased the lipid droplet size and lipid accumulation in the liver, as well as adipocyte size in epididymal adipose tissue. At the dose tested, YST was non-toxic to the liver and kidneys of the mice.

CONCLUSION

The results imply that YST has anti-obesity effects in obesity-induced mice. Although the number of experimental animals was limited and the drug effects concern mice, rather than humans, which have different constitutions, the study has valuable implications with respect to the general effects of YST.

Triphala, Regulates Adipogenesis through Modulation of Expression of Adipogenic Genes in 3T3-L1 Cell Line

Background

Triphala, an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation, is used for the treatment of various diseases including obesity.

Objective

The present study was planned to evaluate the anti-adipogenic potential of aqueous extract of Triphala (TP_aq) using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line model.

Methods

The effect of aqueous extract of Triphala (TP_aq) was tested on the viability of 3T3- L1 cells by MTT assay. The cells were treated with a cocktail of dexamethasone (DEX), isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and insulin to induce adipogenesis. The cells were treated either with the induction cocktail or with the cocktail containing different concentrations (1, 10 and100 μg/ml) of TP_aq. Intracellular lipid content was analyzed using Oil O Red stain and was quantified after extracting with isopropanol at 500 nm wavelength. The expression of early (PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α) and late (GLUT4 and FAS) phase adipogenic genes was studied by real time PCR.

Results

TP_aq did not affect the viability of 3T3-L1 cell line. Interestingly, TP_aq induced a concentration dependant decrease in the intracellular lipid content and expression of both early and late phase adipogenic genes. This decrease was statistically significant compared to cells treated with only induction cocktail.

Conclusion

These results suggested that Triphala regulated lipid accumulation by down regulating expression of adipogenic genes, resulting into prevention of adipogenesis.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an ayurvedic polyherbal drug Triphala on adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 cell line. The results suggested that Triphala regulated lipid accumulation by downregulating expression of adipogenic genes, resulting into the prevention of adipogenesis. Abbreviations used: TP_aq: Aqueous extract of Triphala; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium; FBS: Fetal Bovine Serum; IBMX: Isobutyl methylxanthine; DMX: Dexamethasone; MTT: [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay; PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; C/EBP:Enhancer binding protein α, FAS:Fatty acid synthase; Glut-4: Glucose phosphate transporter 4.