Extract of Acalypha australis L. inhibits lipid accumulation and ameliorates HFD-induced obesity in mice through regulating adipose differentiation by decreasing PPARγ and CEBP/α expression

  • Lang You
  • Fengxia Li
  • Yan Sun
  • Liang Luo
  • Jian Qin
  • Tao Wang
  • Yuchen Liu
  • Ruogu Lai
  • Ruohan Li
  • Xiaoran Guo
  • Qiuyan Mai
  • Yihang Pan
  • Jianrong Xu
  • Ningning Li
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v65.4246
Keywords: Acalypha australis L., obesity, adipogenesis, PPARγ, C/EBPα, intestinal florea

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a principal risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Natural plants and/or foods play an important role in the management of obesity. Acalypha australis L. (AAL) is a kind of potherb popular among Asian populations, and it is also consumed as a food ingredient and traditional herbal medicine.

Objective: We investigated the effects of water extract from AAL on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes to develop a new functional food material.

Design: Nine-week-old male mice were randomly divided into control (chow diet, n = 6) and HFD (n = 30) group. From 12-weeks onward, mice in the HFD group were further separated into model (saline, 6 mL/ kg), simvastatin (0.11 mg/mL, 6 mL/kg), and AAL treatment (low, middle, and high dosage: 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg) group, with 6 animals per group, while mice in the control group were treated with saline (6 mL/ kg). Food intake, body/fat weight, liver/kidney indexes, and lipid profiles were determined. Tissues were fixed with formalin for pathological examination. Western blotting and PCR were performed to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Oil Red O staining was used to determine lipid accumulation.

Results: AAL administration significantly suppressed body weight gain, and reduced fat pad weight and Lee’s index in obese mice, but had no effect on liver/kidney index. AAL also reduced serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C and increased HDL-C levels. Histological analysis revealed that AAL significantly ameliorated lipid accumulation in the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue. In vitro, Oil Red O staining showed that AAL inhibited adipose differentiation by down-regulating the gene and protein expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα. AAL also reversed HFD-induced intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Conclusion: AAL water-soluble extract has a significant anti-adipogenic effect in the HFD-induced obese mice model.

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Published
2021-03-01
How to Cite
You L., Li F., Sun Y., Luo L., Qin J., Wang T., Liu Y., Lai R., Li R., Guo X., Mai Q., Pan Y., Xu J., & Li N. (2021). Extract of <em>Acalypha australis L. </em&gt;inhibits lipid accumulation and ameliorates HFD-induced obesity in mice through regulating adipose differentiation by decreasing PPARγ and CEBP/α expression. Food & Nutrition Research, 65. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v65.4246
Issue
Vol 65 (2021)
Section
Original Articles
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