title: Effects of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi rhizome on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and an animal model of obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi (AMK) is an herbal medicine traditionally used for treatment of abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disease, obesity, and related complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of AMK rhizome water extract on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis and an animal model of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  To study the effect of AMK on adipogenesis in vitro, differentiating 3T3-L1 cells were treated every two days with AMK at various concentrations (1-25μg/ml) for eight days. Oil Red O staining was performed to determine the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. To elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of AMK on adipogenesis, phosphorylation levels of Akt and expression of perilipin, were analyzed by Western blotting. AMK was administered orally to high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats to confirm its effect in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AMK inhibited 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner without cellular toxicity. Phospho-Akt expression was highly decreased by AMK treatment, whereas there was no significant change in perilipin expression. AMK administration significantly reduced the body weight of rats fed a HFD. Plasma triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the AMK-treated HFD group than those in the HFD control group or normal diet (ND) group, although serum total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels did not differ between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of AMK on adipogenesis through reduction of an adipogenic factor, phospho-Akt. AMK had a beneficial effect, reducing body weight gain in a HFD-induced animal model of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mihyun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Deog
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Boram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Gi Soon
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sun-Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Chulhun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Byung-Il
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031174:Atractylodes / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000070778:Perilipin-1; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000070778:Perilipin-1; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt