title: 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid attenuates anandamide-induced adiposity and high-fat diet induced obesity.
abstract: METHODS
  Previous reports suggest that licorice extract has various metabolically beneficial effects and may help to alleviate adiposity and hyperlipidemia. However, underlying anti-obesity mechanisms still remain elusive. Moreover, it is unknown which single ingredient in licorice extract would mediate such effects. We aimed to demonstrate that licorice extract and its active ingredients can inhibit adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) alleviated the effects of CB1R agonist, anandamide (AEA) on CB1R signaling in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, 18β-GA suppressed AEA-induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells through the downregulation of AEA-induced MAPK activation and expression of adipogenic genes including C/EBP-α and PPAR-γ. The protein levels of fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 were also decreased and the phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase was increased in 18β-GA pretreated cells. The supplementation of 18β-GA significantly lowered body weight, fat weight, and plasma lipids levels in obese animal models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism involved in anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity effects of 18β-GA by suppressing the activation of CB1R induced by AEA. Thus, 18β-GA may exert beneficial effects against obesity-related metabolic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Medical Beauty Research Institute, Amorepacific Corporation R&D Center, Yongin, Korea; Departments of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Global Top 5 Program, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Miyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji-Hae
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong Deog
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Il-Hong
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Kyung-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hunjoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D022763:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008055:Lipids; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C119129:18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid; C078814:anandamide
keywords: 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid; 3T3-L1; Cannabinoid receptor type 1; Licorice; Obesity