Antiadipogenic effects of a standardized quassinoids‐enriched fraction and eurycomanone from Eurycoma longifolia

Abstract

Bioactive compounds of Eurycoma longifolia (EL) jack were previously shown to reduce omentum fat mass and oestradiol-induced fatty uterine adhesion in rats. However, the exact role of EL on adipogenesis remains unknown. This study sought to investigate the effects of an EL standardized quassinoids-enriched fraction (SQEL) and the pure compound, eurycomanone, on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate and treated for 8 days. The treatment reduced intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets and triglycerides in the differentiating adipocytes and induced lipolysis in matured adipocytes. The expressions of adipogenic transcription factors and markers were also significantly downregulated during the early stage of differentiation. Furthermore, SQEL also suppressed body weight gain, decreased epididymal and perirenal fat pad mass and size, and reduced the accumulation of fat in the livers of C57BL/6J mice fed with normal or high-fat diet that were concurrently given 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg (i.p) of SQEL for 12 weeks. SQEL also improved glucose intolerance and decreased the elevated total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in these mice groups. These findings suggest that SQEL could be explored as an alternative pharmacologic agent inhibiting adipogenesis for the prevention of obesity.

Selection of Thai Medicinal Plants with Anti-Obesogenic Potential via In Vitro Methods

“…An in vivo study also demonstrated the efficacy of this plant. The study found that a standardized quassinoid-enriched fraction of E. longifolia reduced body weight gain, adipose tissue hypertrophy, and serum glycerol levels in mice with HFD induced obesity [16]. Furthermore, clinical testing illustrated that consumption of the E. longifolia extract together with exercise enhanced lipolysis [14].…”

“…Moreover, E. longifolia roots displayed low pancreatic lipase-inhibitory activity but strong potential to enhance lipolysis and reduce lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. E. longifolia is a well-known medicinal plant in the Asian region, and several studies have described the potential of its roots to treat obesity [14][15][16]. For instance, our research group previously explored the bioactive compounds of E. longifolia roots and their lipolysis-enhancing activities in a cell-based assay [15].…”

Eurycomanone regulates lipid metabolism by activating the cAMP/PKA pathway

“…Abnormal expression of PKA phosphorylation has been identified in obese samples and closely related to lipid metabolism disorders [38][39][40]. [45][46][47][48] have shown that the expression of PKA, HSL and cAMP mRNA is upregulated following EN treatment, while AKT expression is downregulated. However, in this study, we found that expression of PKA, HSL, cAMP and AKT were upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels following EN treatment.…”

“…Studies have indicated that a newly identified intracellular fat-specific phospholipase A2 (AdPLA) interferes with lipolysis by regulating the production of arachidonic acid [21,22]. for future pharmacokinetic studies of the efficacy and safety of EN [26][27], metabolite research in vivo [28], toxicology [29][30], lipolysis and improvement of hypertension [31][32][33]. At present, there are a lot of theories related to lipolysis that have been supported in a large number of animal studies.…”

Herbal medicinal products and obesity: A PTR virtual issue

“…Experimental studies have revealed a number of phytoconstituents or extracts having the potential to counteract obesity. Among these, plumbagin, dehydroleucodine, eurycomanone from Eurycoma longifolia , phytocannabinoids, genipin from Gardeniae fructus , lignans from Faructus arctii , saringosterol isolated from Sargassum muticum , anthocyanidin‐rich Vitis vinifera grape skin extract, pterostilbene, Pinus koraiensis leaf alcoholic extract, Momordica charantia , and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract (Abood, Veisaga, López, & Barbieri, ; Balan, Chan, Murugan, AbuBakar, & Wong, ; da Costa et al, ; Gao et al, ; Gomez‐Zorita et al, ; Gong, Zhang, & Xu, ; Guan et al, ; Hong et al, ; Lee, Cho, Hong, & Ahn, ; Leng et al, ; Pai, Martis, Joshi, Munshi, & Juvekar, ; Ramlugon, Levendal, & Frost, ). This virtual issue, as well as two previous virtual issues on the clinical efficacy of herbal nutraceuticals (Izzo, ) and on the pharmacology of curcumin (Izzo, ), is free available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10991573.…”