Samnamul (Shoots of Aruncus dioicus) Inhibit Adipogenesis by Downregulating Adipocyte-Specific Transcription Factors in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Abstract

Adipocyte-specific transcription factors and antioxidants are considered the best target of obesity. Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus (A. dioicus, Samnamul) is easily available owing to edible and inexpensive. However, the anti-adipogenic effects of the underlying mechanism of A. dioicus extract (ADE) have not yet been reported. In the present study, we evaluate anti-adipogenic pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, antioxidant activities and quantified phenolics using high-performance liquid chromatography of ADE. The results revealed ADE had reduced adipocyte differentiation (0.72-fold vs. MDI (media of differentiation) control), triglyceride (TG; 0.50-fold vs. MDI control, p < 0.001), and total cholesterol contents (0.77-fold vs. MDI control) by regulating adipocyte-specific transcription factors (C/EBPα, PPARγ, and SREBP1) and their downstream mRNA (AdipoQ, Ap2, SREBP1-c, and FAS) levels. Furthermore, ADE has higher total phenol and flavonoid contents and scavenging assay in the DPPH and ABTS+. In particularly, ADE contains chlorogenic acid (7.04 mg/kg), caffeic acid (20.14 mg/kg), ferulic acid (1.74 mg/kg), veratric acid (29.31 mg/kg), cinnamic acid (4.70 mg/kg), and quercetin (4.18 mg/kg). In conclusion, since these phenols, especially quercetin, in the ADE appear to reduce differentiation, TG and cholesterol content by regulating adipocyte-specific transcription factors in adipocytes, ADE has the potential to be developed into a new antioxidant and anti-obesity therapeutics.