Abstract. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of water-extracted plum (WEP) on adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis and inflammation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. WEP was assessed for basic analyses, including high-performance liquid chromatography, total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays] in vitro. Moreover, the cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was investigated using Oil Red O staining, and the expression of genes and proteins associated with adipogenesis and lipolysis were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. In addition, sulforaphane using a positive control was performed simultaneously. The WEP significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes without cytotoxicity. WEP resulted in direct anti-obesity effects through the modulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine/enhancer binding protein α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. These regulations of molecular expressions were significantly activated via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Moreover, these results provide potential anti-adipogenic effects of WEP and may have potential as a natural agent for the prevention and improvement of obesity. IntroductionFood intake behaviors, genes and the environment are important factors in causing people to be overweight and obese. The prevalence of obesity worldwide has rapidly increased over the past decades. In 2014, the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Korea reported that over a third of Korean adults (30.2%) were obese (1,2). Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, which give rise to complex health issues, including hypertension, sleep apnoea, arthritis and decrease future life expectancy (3,4).Prior studies have demonstrated that numerous dietary polyphenolic constituents derived from plants are more effective antioxidants in vitro compared with vitamin E or C (5). In addition, increasing interest has been paid to dietary agents such as fruits and vegetables for the possibility of controlling obesity as lipolysis agents, since these dietary agents are known to have or enhance anti-adipogenic and/or lipolysis activity without causing cytotoxicity (6). Plum (Prunus salicina L. cv. Soldam) is an important fruit crop grown in Gimcheon, Gyungbuk, Korea. It is often used to help regulate the function of the digestive system and has been recently used as a supplement for irregularity treatment (7). This effect has been attributed to various compounds present in the fruits, such as dietary fiber, isatin and sorbitol (8). In addition, prunes and prune juice are often used to help regulate the functioning of the digestive system. Dried plums (or pru...

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate inhibitory effects of steamed Polygonatum odoratum extract (POE) on differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Polygonatum odoratum (P. odoratum) extract was extracted with ethyl acetate. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in POE were measured for antioxidant activity. The spectrophotometric method was used to determine the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP). MTT assay was examined for cell toxicity, oil red O staining was performed for intracelluar adipogenesis in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Western blot analysis for measurement of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expressions were performed. Results : The results revealed that POE has antioxidant activities. Contents of total polyphenolics and flavonoids were 50.83±1.52 GAE mg/100g dry weight of POE and 17.05±2.47 RE mg/100g dry weight of POE, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP in 10 mg/ml concentration were 92.1±0.6%, 244.8±9.0 µM Fe(II) and ABTS inhibition in 5 mg/ml concentration was 84.8±4.1%. Treatment of POE in adipocytes inhibited the differentiation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to those of vehicle control. Additionally, protein expressions of C/EBPα and PPARγ , major transcription factor for the adipogenic genes, were significantly decreased compared to those of vehicle control (p<0.05). Futhermore, phosphorylation of AMPK was increased in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with POE compared to that of vehicle control (p<0.05). Conclusions : we demonstrate that steamed P. odoratum extract (POE) has potentiating antioxidant activities,

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We investigated whether overexpressed claudin‐3 and ‐4, a component of tight junctions (TJs), repressed invasion activity in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB 231, when treated with genistein. Genistein inhibited the cancer cell growth and tightened TJs in these cells as demonstrated increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and decreased in paracellular permeability of mannitol. The activities of MMP‐2 and ‐9 in cancer cells were decreased by treatment with genistein and occurred in a time dependent manner. Those of MMP‐2 were observed strong compared with those of MMP‐9 in both cell lines and activities and protein levels of MMP‐2 in MDA‐MB 231 were higher than those of MCF‐7. Concurrently, genistein repressed the levels of claudin‐3 and ‐4 proteins and also decreased metastasis related gene expressions, such as IGF‐l and snail and, reversely, increased that of TSP‐1 and E‐cadherin in cancer cells. The inhibitory effect of genistein on invasive activity was functionally confirmed, since it significantly reduced the invasion properties of cancer cells in invasion assay. And also we validated with using claudin‐3 siRNA on invasion activity of breast cancer calls. The demonstration of ability of genistein to tighten TJs and repression of claudin‐3 and ‐4 protein levels points to a novel mechanism by which genistein and possibly other phytochemicals may prevent cancer and metastasis.