Anti-Obesity Effects of Grateloupia elliptica, a Red Seaweed, in Mice with High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity via Suppression of Adipogenic Factors in White Adipose Tissue and Increased Thermogenic Factors in Brown Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Obesity is a serious metabolic syndrome characterized by high levels of cholesterol, lipids in the blood, and intracellular fat accumulation in adipose tissues. It is known that the suppression of adipogenic protein expression is an effective approach for the treatment of obesity, and regulates fatty acid storage and transportation in adipose tissues. The 60% ethanol extract of Grateloupia elliptica (GEE), a red seaweed from Jeju Island in Korea, was shown to exert anti-adipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells and in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. GEE inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, and significantly reduced expression of adipogenic proteins. In vivo experiments indicated a significant reduction in body weight, as well as white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, including fatty liver, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin contents. The expression of the adipogenic proteins, SREBP-1 and PPAR-γ, was significantly decreased by GEE, and the expression of the metabolic regulator protein was increased in WAT. The potential of GEE was shown in WAT, with the downregulation of PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α mRNA; in contrast, in brown adipose tissue (BAT), the thermogenic proteins were increased. Collectively, these research findings suggest the potential of GEE as an effective candidate for the treatment of obesity-related issues via functional foods or pharmaceutical agents.

Therapeutic Uses of Red Macroalgae

“…The ethanolic extract of Grateloupia elliptica (60%) reduced the accumulation of the lipid in 3T3-L1 cells and inhibited the adipogenic proteins expression. In addition to a significant decreasing in body weight of C57 BL/6J male mice, as well as reducing white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, e.g., fatty liver, leptin, total cholesterol, and serum triglycerides contents in vivo without cytotoxic effect [ 79 ]. Forty % of Plocamium telfairiae ethanolic extract showed anti-obesity ability via reducing the fat accumulation and suppressed the expression of major adipogenesis factors, like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ),CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), and phosphorylated ACC (pACC) in 3T3-L1 cells [ 80 ].…”

Quantifying the Effect of Supplementation with Algae and Its Extracts on Glycolipid Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Dietary studies in Japan and South Korea showed that consumption of seaweed can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer, hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease [ 16 , 17 ]. The existing evidence shows that algae, especially spirulina, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial and other health-promoting functions, and has a positive therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia, obesity, cardiac vascular disease (CVD) and diabetes [ 15 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Polyphenols extracted from seaweed are thought to contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes complications due to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, oxidative damage and chronic inflammation, as well as metabolic abnormalities [ 22 ].…”

Anti-Obesity Effects of Macroalgae

“…Lee et al [17] analyzed the effects of a 60% ethanol extract of Grateloupia elliptica (GEE), a red seaweed from Jeju Island in Korea, on lipid accumulation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Cells were treated during adipocyte differentiation (8 days) with 25, 50, 100 or 200 µg/mL of the seaweed extract.…”

“…Lee et al [17] studied the anti-obesity effects of the 60% ethanol extract of the red seaweed Grateloupia elliptica in mice fed a high-fat diet. For this purpose, 5-6-week-old male C57 BL/6J mice were divided into four experimental groups: the CD group was fed a chow diet, the HFD group was fed a high-fat diet, the L-GEE group was fed the same high-fat diet supplemented with a low dose of G. elliptica (125 mg/kg body weight/day), and the H-GEE group was fed the same high-fat diet supplemented with a high dose of G. elliptica (250 mg/kg body weight/day).…”