title: Genistein mediates the anti-adipogenic actions of Sophora japonica L. extracts.
abstract: Previous studies showed that feeding diets containing the mature fruits of Sophora japonica L. prevented body weight gain and reduced fat mass in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. This observation has led to the hypothesis that extracts from S. japonica L. may inhibit adipocyte differentiation of preadipocytes. To elucidate the possible mechanisms for the anti-obesity action of S. japonica L., its effects on adipocyte differentiation were investigated in C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells and 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The mature fruit of S. japonica L. was partitioned with ethanol, hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and butanol to identify the active fractions. The EtOAc fraction extracts inhibited morphological differentiation and lipid accumulation in the C3H10T1/2 and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Molecular studies indicated that the EtOAc fraction extracts also reduced the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and other adipocyte markers. Furthermore, among the fractions, the EtOAc fraction extracts had the highest total phenolic contents, suggesting that the polyphenols in the EtOAc fractions mediated the anti-adipogenic effects. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography identified genistein, a known anti-adipogenic compound, as the probable mediator of the anti-adipogenic effects of the EtOAc fractions. This work validates the beneficial roles of S. japonica L. in controlling body weight and obesity-related metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Ra
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Young-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: A-Ryeong
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gwon
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Tae-Joon
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Joung-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ki-Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kye Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019833:Genistein; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D029909:Sophora / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D019833:Genistein