title: Artemisia extracts activate PPARγ, promote adipogenesis, and enhance insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue of obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown that the inability of adipose tissue to properly expand during the obese state or respond to insulin can lead to metabolic dysfunction. Artemisia is a diverse group of plants that has a history of medicinal use. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) and Artemisia santolinifolia (SAN) to modulate adipocyte development in cultured adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT) function in vivo using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adipogenesis was assessed using Oil Red O staining and immunoblotting. A nuclear receptor specificity assay was used to examine the specificity of SCO- and SAN-induced PPARγ activation. C57BL/6J mice, fed a high-fat diet, were gavaged with saline, SCO, or SAN for 2 wk. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was examined using insulin tolerance tests. WAT depots were assessed via immunoblotting for markers of insulin action and adipokine production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We established that SCO and SAN were highly specific activators of PPARγ and did not activate other nuclear receptors. After a 1-wk daily gavage, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had lower insulin-induced glucose disposal rates than control mice. At the end of the 2-wk treatment period, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had enhanced insulin-responsive Akt serine-473 phosphorylation and significantly decreased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in visceral WAT compared with control mice; these differences were depot specific. Moreover, plasma adiponectin levels were increased following SCO treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, these studies demonstrate that extracts from two Artemisia species can have metabolically favorable effects on adipocytes and WAT.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Burris
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Department, Saint Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Infantes
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Biotech Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ribnicky
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Electronic address: jsteph1@lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D007328:Insulin; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: 3T3-L1 adipocytes; Botanicals; Diet-induced obesity; Fat cells; Insulin action