Anti-Obesity Effect of Aster yomena Extracts through Regulation of AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling

Abstract

In this study, the anti-obesity effect of a 50% ethanol extract from Aster yomena (AY), a natural material with various physiological activities, including anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, was investigated in C3H/ 10T1/2 cells. The AY extract (10, 200, or 500 μg/mL) suppressed both the accumulation of lipid droplets, as stained with Oil Red O, and the production of intracellular triglycerides. The extract also suppressed factors related to adipogenesis (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, beta, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; PPARγ) and lipogenesis (sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and fatty acid binding protein 4), but it enhanced the expressions of β-oxidation-related mRNA and proteins (AMP-activated protein kinase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, PPARγ coactivator-1 alpha, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 alpha). In addition, the extract dose-dependently regulated leptin and adiponectin levels. These results suggest the anti-obesity effect of the AY extract is caused by its targeting the above-mentioned adipogenic and β-oxidation factors and that it has potential use for treating obesity.