Anti-Adipogenic Polyacetylene Glycosides from the Florets of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)

Abstract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual herb belonging to the Compositae family; it has a history of use as a food colorant, dye, and medicine in oriental countries. LC-MS-UV-based chemical analysis of extract of the florets of C. tinctorius led to the isolation of two new C10-polyacetylene glycosides, (8Z)-decaene-4,6-diyne-1,10-diol-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and (8S)-deca-4,6-diyne-1,8-diol-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), together with five known analogs (3–7). The structures of the new compounds were determined by using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and HR-MS data, as well as chemical transformations. Of compounds 1–7, compounds 2, 3, and 4 inhibited the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, whereas compounds 1 and 6 promoted adipogenesis. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 also prevented lipid accumulation through the suppression of the expression of lipogenic genes and the increase of the expression of lipolytic genes. Moreover, compounds 3 and 4 activated AMPK, which is known to facilitate lipid metabolism. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for the use of safflower-derived polyacetylene glycosides as potential therapeutic agents against obesity.

Recent Advances in the Discovery of Novel Drugs on Natural Molecules

“…Florets of Safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius ) were identified as a source of polyacetylene glycosides, which are responsible for preventing excessive lipid accumulation in obesity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, reducing the transcription levels of mature adipocyte marker genes ( Adipsin and Fabp4 ), promoting the expression of lipolytic genes, and downregulating the expression of lipogenic genes [ 33 ].…”

Flavonol glycosides from the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius and their anti-diabetic activity

“…Flavonoid, phenylethanoid glycoside, coumarin을 비롯한 200 여종의 화합물들이 잇꽃에 존재한다고 보고되어 있으며 [7], 일 부 화합물들은 항동맥경화 [8], 지방분해효과 [9], 항혈전 [10] 등의 다양한 생리활성을 가진다고 보고되고 있다. Flavonoid는 잇꽃 의 주요 성분으로, 지금까지 quercetin, rutin, keampferol 등 50 여종의 flavonoid 계열 화합물이 잇꽃으로부터 분리 및 보고되 어 있다 [11].…”