title: Leucaena leucocephala fruit aqueous extract stimulates adipogenesis, lipolysis, and glucose uptake in primary rat adipocytes.
abstract: Leucaena leucocephala had been traditionally used to treat diabetes. The present study was designed to evaluate in vitro "insulin-like" activities of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) deWit. aqueous fruit extract on lipid and glucose metabolisms. The ability of the extract to stimulate adipogenesis, inhibit lipolysis, and activate radio-labeled glucose uptake was assessed using primary rat adipocytes. Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR was performed to investigate effects of the extract on expression levels of genes (protein kinases B, AKT; glucose transporter 4, GLUT4; hormone sensitive lipase, HSL; phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, PI3KA; sterol regulatory element binding factor 1, Srebp1) involved in insulin-induced signaling pathways. L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract stimulated moderate adipogenesis and glucose uptake into adipocytes when compared to insulin. Generally, the extract exerted a considerable level of lipolytic effect at lower concentration but decreased gradually at higher concentration. The findings concurred with RT-PCR analysis. The expressions of GLUT4 and HSL genes were upregulated by twofold and onefold, respectively, whereas AKT, PI3KA, and Srebp1 genes were downregulated. The L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract may be potentially used as an adjuvant in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management due to its enhanced glucose uptake and balanced adipogenesis and lipolysis properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Umah Rani
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Kuppusamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Bavani
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8313-567X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arumugam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nooriza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azaman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Segi University, Selangor 47810, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jen Wai
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis; D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008066:Lipolysis; D008297:Male; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; C495694:Slc2a4 protein, rat; C497389:Srebf1 protein, rat; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D002787:Sterol Esterase; D005947:Glucose