title: Tenebrio molitor Larvae Inhibit Adipogenesis through AMPK and MAPKs Signaling in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.
abstract: Despite the increasing interest in insect-based bioactive products, the biological activities of these products are rarely studied adequately. Larvae ofTenebrio molitor, the yellow mealworm, have been eaten as a traditional food and provide many health benefits. Therefore, we hypothesized thatT. molitorlarvae might influence adipogenesis and obesity-related disorders. In the present study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic and antiobesity effects ofT. molitorlarvae in vitro and in vivo. The lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in mature adipocytes was reduced significantly (up to 90%) upon exposure to an ethanol extract ofT. molitorlarvae, without a reduction in cell viability. Exposure also resulted in key adipogenic and lipogenic transcription factors. Additionally, in adipogenic differentiation medium the extract induced phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Daily oral administration ofT. molitorlarvae powder to obese mice fed high-fat diet attenuated body weight gain. We also found that the powder efficiently reduced hepatic steatosis as well as aspartate and alanine transaminase enzyme levels in mice fed a high-fat diet. Our results suggest thatT. molitorlarvae extract has an antiobesity effect when administered as a food supplement and has potential as a therapeutic agent for obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea. nansmc@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Minchul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714, Korea. gootw@dongguk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Tae-Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea. shindelela@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Mi Yeon
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea. minhee680@naver.com.
authors.forename: Minhee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea. hwangjs@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Jae-Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-gun 55365, Korea. kimma@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Mi-Ae
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Integrated Bioindustry, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea. yuney@sejong.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Yun
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013712:Tenebrio; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: 3T3-L1; Tenebrio molitor larvae; adipogenesis; diet-induced obesity; hepatic steatosis