title: Averrhoa carambola L. peel extract suppresses adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of many chronic diseases. Recently, a growing body of evidence has shown that phytochemicals may inhibit adipogenesis and obesity. In this study, we report for the first time, the ability of Averrhoa carambola L. peel extract commonly known as star fruit (SFP) to effectively suppress adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and therefore, address it as a potential candidate to treat obesity and its related diseases. (-)-Epicatechin was identified as a bioactive compound likely responsible for this suppression. As the genetic expression studies revealed that the adipogenic activity of SFP extract was due to the simultaneous downregulation of the C/EBPα and PPARγ as well as the upregulation of PPARα receptor genes, a detailed computational docking study was also elucidated to reveal the likely binding mode of (-)-epicatechin to the receptor of interest, accounting for the likely mechanism that results in the overall suppression of adipocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. sunstar53@126.com.
authors.forename: Asyifah Mohamed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. sunstar53@126.com.
authors.forename: Kaihui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. sunstar53@126.com.
authors.forename: Yew Mun
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China and Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. sunstar53@126.com.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D065826:Averrhoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation; D009765:Obesity; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; C530718:CEBPA protein, mouse; D047493:PPAR alpha; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002392:Catechin