Moringa oleifera Leaf Petroleum Ether Extract Inhibits Lipogenesis by Activating the AMPK Signaling Pathway

Abstract

In recent years, obesity has become a key factor affecting human health. Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial tropical deciduous tree, which is widely used in human medicine due to its nutritional and unique medicinal value. It has a cholesterol-lowering effect, but its mechanism of action is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the inhibitory effect of M. oleifera leaf petroleum ether extract (MOPEE) on lipid accumulation by in vitro and in vivo experiments, and we described its mechanism of action. MOPEE suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and had no effect on cell viability at doses up to 400 μg/ml. Furthermore, MOPEE (400 μg/ml) significantly downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-associated proteins [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α and β (C/EBPα and C/EBPβ), and fatty acid synthase (FAS)] and upregulated the expression of a lipolysis-associated protein [hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL)] in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, MOPEE (400 μg/ml) significantly increased the degree of phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). An AMPK inhibitor reversed the MOPEE-induced activation of AMPKα and ACC in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Animal experiments showed that, in high-fat diet (HFD) mice, MOPEE [0.5 g/kg body weight (BW)] effectively decreased BW; relative epididymal, perirenal, and mesenteric fat weight and fat tissue size; and hepatic fat accumulation. Furthermore, MOPEE markedly reduced the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Moreover, MOPEE significantly downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-associated proteins (PPARγ and FAS) and upregulated the expression of a lipolysis-associated protein [adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL)] in HFD mice hepatic and epididymal fat tissue. Additionally, MOPEE markedly increased the degree of phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACC in HFD mice hepatic and epididymal fat tissue. Following ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) analysis, three phytocompounds (isoquercitrin, chrysin-7-glucoside, and quercitrin) were identified as compounds with relatively high levels in MOPEE. Among them, quercitrin showed excellent fat accumulation inhibitory activity, and the three compounds had synergistic effects in inhibiting adipogenesis. Taken together, MOPEE inhibits fat accumulation by inhibiting the adipogenesis and promoting the lipolysis, and this process is related to AMPK activation.

Anti-obesity potential of Moringa olifera seed extract and lycopene on high fat diet induced obesity in male Sprauge Dawely rats

“…Administration of Moringa olifera seed oil and LYC to HFD fed rats significantly ameliorated the elevated leptin and resistin levels, and caused a reduction of inflammatory cytokines levels. These effects are attributed to their fat mass reducing effect that is the main source of adipokines, as well as their potential in adjusting lipid metabolism ( Aborehab et al, 2016 , Xie et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, both Moringa olifera seed oil extrect and LYC possess an antioxidant potential that restores the antioxidant reserve and decreased MDA, thus reducing inflammatory cytokines production and restoring glucose level toward normal values.…”

Unraveling Plant Natural Chemical Diversity for Drug Discovery Purposes

“…The next steps would include the testing of the extracts in 96 (or 384) well plates against the biological targets of the program. These biological tests are often a cloned enzyme catalytic assay, a receptor binding assay, a protein-protein interaction assay or even a whole pathway (Ishibashi and Ohtsuki, 2008;Xie et al, 2018), to name but a few. Biological testing targeting whole-cells was also reported against cancer cells (Mazzio et al, 2014;Kant et al, 2016), virus-infected cells (Yi et al, 2004;Dai et al, 2012), or microorganisms (Correia et al, 2008;Figueroa-López et al, 2014;St-Pierre et al, 2018).…”

Polyphenol Extract of Moringa Oleifera Leaves Alleviates Colonic Inflammation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Treated Mice

“…In 2012, M. oleifera leaves were approved by the Chinese Ministry of Health as a new resource food. M. oleifera is also an essential traditional herb used to treat inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, anemia, hypoimmunity, and other diseases [ 2 – 5 ]. There are some flavonoid pigments, such as alkaloids, kaempferol, rhamnose, and isoquercitrin, and various antioxidant compounds, such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenols, and carotenoids, which occur naturally in M. oleifera [ 6 ] and may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of M. oleifera .…”