The flower of Edgeworthia gardneri (wall.) Meisn. suppresses adipogenesis through modulation of the AMPK pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

BACKGROUND

The flower of Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn., locally named "Lvluohua, ", has been widely used as Tibetan folk medicine for the treatment of metabolic diseases for a long time.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the anti-adipogenesis effect of ethyl acetate extract of the flower of E. gardneri (EEG extract) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

METHODS

Obesity-related parameters such as lipid accumulation and TG content were determined by Oil red O staining and enzymatic kit, respectively. Western blotting was used to determine the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Moreover, main constituents of EEG extract were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS

EEG extract decreased the lipid and triglyceride (TG) accumulations during the differentiation process and down-regulated the adipogenesis-related transcriptional factors PPARγ and C/EBPα. EEG extract treatment increased AMPK and ACC phosphorylation. In addition, pretreatment with AMPK inhibitor, weakened the inhibitory effects of EEG extract on the expressions of PPARγand C/EBPα. HPLC analysis indicated that tiliroside was the main constituent in EEG extract.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that EEG extract may exert anti-adipogenic effects through modulation of the AMPK signaling pathway.