title: Chrysophanic Acid Suppresses Adipogenesis and Induces Thermogenesis by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase AlphaIn vivoandIn vitro.
abstract: Chrysophanic acid (CA) is a member of the anthraquinone family abundant in rhubarb, a widely used herb for obesity treatment in Traditional Korean Medicine. Though several studies have indicated numerous features of CA, no study has yet reported the effect of CA on obesity. In this study, we tried to identify the anti-obesity effects of CA. By using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary cultured brown adipocytes asin vitromodels, high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, and zebrafish asin vivomodels, we determined the anti-obesity effects of CA. CA reduced weight gain in HFD-induced obese mice. They also decreased lipid accumulation and the expressions of adipogenesis factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α), the brown fat specific thermogenic genes, were up-regulated in brown adipocytes by CA treatment. Furthermore, when co-treated with Compound C, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, the action of CA on AMPKα was nullified in both types of adipocytes, indicating the multi-controlling effect of CA was partially via the AMPKα pathway. Given all together, these results indicate that CA can ameliorate obesity by controlling the adipogenic and thermogenic pathway at the same time. On these bases, we suggest the new potential of CA as an anti-obese pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hara
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jinbong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: JongWook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yunu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Center for Metabolic Function Regulation, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University Iksan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmeceutical Science, Daegu Haany University Kyungsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Center for Metabolic Function Regulation, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University Iksan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University Iksan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Basic Research Laboratory for Comorbidity Regulation Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Um
keywords: AMP-activated protein kinase alpha; adipogenesis; chrysophanic acid; obesity; thermogenesis