Anti-obesity effects of zeaxanthin on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte and high fat induced obese mice

Abstract

Zeaxanthin, a type of carotenoid, has been proven to exhibit anti-lipogenesis effect; however, the detailed mechanism of this effect is less known. Herein, we evaluated the effects of zeaxanthin on the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and obesity in high-fat diet fed C57BL/6J mice. Zeaxanthin significantly decreased the intracellular lipid content in a dose-dependent manner (5-15 μM) in adipocytes without causing cytotoxicity. In high-fat-diet-induced obese mice, oral administration of 20 mg kg zeaxanthin attenuated the progression of obesity and improved dyslipidemia. It exhibits an anti-adipogenic effect via down-regulating the transcriptional factors and adipocyte-specific genes involved in adipogenesis, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, zeaxanthin treatment reversed the MDI (0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 1.0 μM dexamethasone, and 1.0 μg mL insulin) and HFD (high-fat diet)-induced inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation in adipocytes and epididymal adipose tissues, respectively, thereby modulating the energy metabolism. These results indicated that zeaxanthin plays anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity roles by inducing AMPK activation, inhibiting lipogenesis, and decreasing intracellular lipid content, adipocyte size, and adipose weight.

Antiobesity Effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice Mediated by AMPK

“…To measure the effect of Rg1 on gene expression in white adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 cells, RT-PCR were performed as previously described [ 24 ]. Briefly, total RNA was isolated using RNA iso Plus reagent (TaKaRa, Japan).…”

Morusin Functions as a Lipogenesis Inhibitor as Well as a Lipolysis Stimulator in Differentiated 3T3-L1 and Primary Adipocytes

“…Various compounds with lipolytic activity and anti-lipogenesis activity were isolated as potential drug candidates from herbal medicines and natural products used to prevent accumulation of body fat. To date, many studies report anti-obesity effects after the treatment of several natural compounds such as resveratrol [ 19 ], ramalin [ 20 ], zeaxanthin [ 21 ], and eupatilin [ 22 ]. In this study, we tried to obtain scientific evidences of the role of morusin on the inhibition of lipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 cells and primary adipocytes.…”

“…For this reason, previous studies have used them as distinct markers to identify novel compounds with anti-obesity activity. Although the expression levels of adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic proteins are significantly increased in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells, these levels recovered after treatment with several single compounds isolated from natural products including resveratrol [ 19 ], ramalin [ 20 ], zeaxanthin [ 21 ], and eupatilin [ 22 ]. Results of this current study are consistent with previous studies; we observed a decrease of two adipogenic transcription factors and two lipogenic proteins in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells after morusin treatment.…”

“…Glycerol release and perilipin expression decrease in TNF-α-stimulated 3T3-L1 cells after resveratrol treatment [ 19 ]. The mRNA expression of perilipin is dose-dependently inhibited in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 after zeaxanthin treatment, while HSL mRNA remains constant [ 21 ]. In the current study, we examined the lipogenic activity and lipolytic activity of morusin in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes to evaluate their anti-obesity effects.…”

“…Meanwhile, the free glycerol release and the expression of lipolytic proteins are considered as a major factor to evaluate the lipolytic activity of specific compounds [ 19 , 21 ]. Most studies measured the level of these factors in only 3T3-L1 adipocytes after the treatment of each compound [ 19 , 21 ], although the range was extensive. However, in our study, the free glycerol release was measured in the primary adipocytes derived from SD rats, while the expression of lipolytic proteins was detected in 3T3-L1 cells.…”