title: Zanthoxylum schinifolium leaf ethanol extract inhibits adipocyte differentiation through inactivation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes.
abstract: Zanthoxylum schinifolium is widely used as a food flavoring in east Asia. Although this plant has also been used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of the common cold, toothache, stomach ache, diarrhea and jaundice, its anti-obesity activity remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of ethanol extract from the leaves of Z. schinifolium (EEZS) on adipocyte differentiation, and its underlying mechanism, in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. The results demonstrated that EEZS effectively suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation at non-toxic concentrations, and was associated with the downregulation of several adipocyte-specific transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferation-activity receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α and C/EBPβ, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, it was observed that EEZS markedly inactivated the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways, which act upstream of PPARγ and C/EBPs in adipogenesis. These results suggested that EEZS inhibited lipid accumulation by downregulating the major transcription factors involved in the pathway of adipogenesis, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ, via regulation of the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. This indicated the potential use of EEZS as an anti-obesity agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Busan National University, Busan 609‑735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ok
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Dongeui University, Busan 614‑714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Formula Sciences, Dongeui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan 614‑052, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Shik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Busan National University, Busan 609‑735, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dongeui University, Busan 614‑714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Myongji University, Yongin 449‑728, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Anti‑Aging Research Center, Dongeui University, Busan 614‑714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Anti‑Aging Research Center, Dongeui University, Busan 614‑714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012997:Solvents; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D000431:Ethanol; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D047495:PPAR gamma; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D012997:Solvents; C530718:CEBPA protein, mouse; C545013:Cebpb protein, mouse