Asarone inhibits adipogenesis and stimulates lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Asarone is a molecule found in certain plants such as Acorus calamus, the root of which is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. We determined the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic activity of asarone. Treatment of asarone significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through suppression of expression of the transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma, which activate adipogenesis. Intracellular triglyceride levels were reduced by asarone in a dose-dependent manner and asarone treatment stimulated the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase. Together, the present findings indicate that asarone inhibits adipogenesis by down-regulation of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha and reduces lipid accumulation by stimulation of lipolysis through an increase in hormone-sensitive lipase activity.
Department of Biological Science, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Korea.
S H
SH
Lee
K-Y
KY
Kim
S Y
SY
Ryu
Y
Y
Yoon
D-H
DH
Hahm
S A
SA
Kang
S H
SH
Cho
J-S
JS
Lim
E-Y
EY
Moon
S R
SR
Yoon
H G
HG
Lee
D Y
DY
Yoon
Y
Y
Yang
D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D029023:Acorus / Q000737:chemistry; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides; C012195:asarone; D002787:Sterol Esterase