Anthraquinones from Morinda officinalis roots enhance adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells.
To search for anti-diabetic and insulin-sensitising natural products, the effect on adipocyte differentiation was investigated by assessing fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using Oil Red O staining. Fractionation and separation of n-hexane and CHCl₃ fractions of Morinda officinalis (Rubiaceae) using several chromatographic methods led to the isolation of three anthraquinones, 1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone (1), alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) and rubiadin-1-methyl ether (3). Among them, alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) showed the strongest enhancing activity, followed by rubiadin-1-methyl ether (3) and 1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone (1). At a concentration of 100 µM, alizarin-2-methyl ether (2) enhanced adipocyte differentiation by up to 131% (compared to insulin-treated cells). Thus, these compounds could be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes.
College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
Qing
Q
Liu
Seon Beom
SB
Kim
Jong Hoon
JH
Ahn
Bang Yeon
BY
Hwang
Sung Yeon
SY
Kim
Mi Kyeong
MK
Lee
D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D032066:Morinda / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*
D000880:Anthraquinones