title: Effect of Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) R.Br. hexane extract on preadipocytes viability and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the crude extracts of Ichnocarpus frutescens (I. frutescens) for antiobesity effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leaves of I. frutescens were sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol and their effect on viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were evaluated. Based on this the apoptosis on preadipocytes was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase) leakage assays. Anti-adipogenesis was performed by oil red O (ORO) staining and free glycerol release in the medium of differentiated adipocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hexane extract of I. frutescens (IFHE) inhibited cell viability in a time- and dose-related manner. An increased release of LDH, as a marker of membrane integrity, was observed at a dose of 200 μg/mL. The discontinuous DNA fragments on agarose gel electrophoresis showed the apoptotic effect of the IFHE. Morphological observations of cells stained with ORO showed a decrease in cellular lipid content at the concentrations tested compared to the induced control cells. In the experiment of lipolytic activity, treatment with IFHE enhanced glycerol secretion with the rates of approximately 28%, 55%, and 46% at the concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 μg/mL, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed properties clearly revealed the medicinal property of I. frutescens in the treatment of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600 034, India. saragamma@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ignacimuthu
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D006586:Hexanes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C011049:oil red O; D005990:Glycerol