Anti-adipogenic Effect of β-Carboline Alkaloids from Garlic (Allium sativum)

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is utilized worldwide for culinary and medicinal use and has diverse health benefits. As part of our ongoing research to identify bioactive components from natural resources, phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of garlic led to the isolation and characterization of six compounds: Three eugenol diglycosides (1-3) and three β-carboline alkaloids (4-6). In particular, the absolute configurations of β-carboline alkaloids (5 and 6) were established by gauge-including atomic orbital nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift calculations, followed by DP4+ analysis. Here, we evaluated the effects of compounds 1-6 on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation was evaluated using Oil Red O staining; the expression of adipogenic genes was detected using RT-qPCR. Among compounds 1-6, (1R,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (6) inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte adipogenesis and reduced the expression of adipogenic genes (Fabp4, PPARγ, C/EBPβ, Adipsin, and Adipoq). Moreover, it markedly decreased the actylation of α-tubulin, which is crucial for cytoskeletal remodeling during adipogenesis. Anti-adipogenic effects were observed upon treatment with compound 6, not only during the entire process, but also on the first two days of adipogenesis. Additionally, treatment with compound 6 regulated the expression of genes involved in adipocyte lipid metabolism, decreasing the lipogenic gene (SREBP1) and increasing lipolytic genes (ATGL and HSL). We provide experimental evidence of the health benefits of using (1R,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid obtained from garlic to prevent excessive adipogenesis in obesity.

Plants-Derived Biomolecules as Potent Antiviral Phytomedicines: New Insights on Ethnobotanical Evidences against Coronaviruses

“…A. sativum is reported to have numerous biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, reno-protective, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-hypertensive effects. Cloves of this traditional medicinal plant contain several potent components, such as alliin, allicin, ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and flavonoids [ 108 , 109 , 254 , 255 , 256 ], due to which it is mostly used for treatment of various disorders [ 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 257 ]. On the other hand, an in vitro study conducted by Ziai et al, 2009 on A. sativum and its potential efficacy to inhibit the ACE-2 receptor reported some effective results [ 94 ].…”

African and Asian Medicinal Plants as a Repository for Prospective Antiviral Metabolites Against HIV-1 and SARS CoV-2: A Mini Review

“…Garlic extract inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2, a functional receptor for SARS-CoV Li et al (2003) by 39.57% at a dose of 10 mg/ml Chaudhary et al (2020) indicating its potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV. A. sativum contains various other bioactive compounds including alliin, allicin, vinyldithis and flavonoids ( Chavanet al, 2016 ; Kim et al, 2018 ; Baek et al, 2019 ; Phan et al, 2019 ; El-Saber Batiha et al, 2020 ).…”

Discovery of Dihydrophaseic Acid Glucosides from the Florets of Carthamus tinctorius

“…The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their antiadipogenic properties [ 20 , 21 , 22 ], we independently treated 3T3-L1 cells with compounds 1 and 2 (20 μM, each) during adipogenesis ( Figure 5 A). Lipid droplets were visualized with Oil Red O staining, and the results showed that only compound 1 effectively inhibited de novo adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in adipocytes, whereas compound 2 did not alter the number of adipocytes or the size of lipid droplets ( Figure 5 B).…”