title: A quantified ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) extract influences lipid acquisition and increases adiponectin expression in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: A Panax ginseng extract (PGE) with a quantified amount of ginsenosides was utilized to investigate its potential to inhibit proliferation, influence lipid acquisition and adiponectin expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Seven fingerprint ginsenosides were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography and their respective molecular weights were further confirmed via LC-ESI-MS analysis from four different extraction methods. Extraction using methanol under reflux produced significantly higher amounts of ginsenosides. The methanol extract consisted of Rg1 (47.40 ± 4.28 mg/g, dry weight of extract), Re (61.62 ± 5.10 mg/g), Rf (6.14 ± 0.28 mg/g), Rb1 (21.73 ± 1.29 mg/g), Rc (78.79 ± 4.15 mg/g), Rb2 (56.80 ± 3.79 mg/g), Rd (5.90 ± 0.41 mg/g). MTT analysis showed that PGE had a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte and the LC(50) value was calculated to be 18.2 ± 5 µg/mL. Cell cycle analysis showed minimal changes in all four phases. Differentiating adipocytes treated with ginseng extract had a visible decrease in lipid droplets formation measured by Oil red O staining. Consequently, triglycerides levels in media significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by 39.5% and 46.1% when treated at concentrations of 1 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL compared to untreated control cells. Western blot analysis showed that the adiponectin protein expression was significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 10 µg/mL, but not at 1 µg/mL. A quantified PGE reduced the growth of 3T3-L1 cells, down-regulated lipid accumulation and up-regulated adiponectin expression in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chia-Rou
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ting-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Popovich
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D051379:Mice; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts