Saponin‐enriched extracts from body wall and Cuvierian tubule of Holothuria leucospilota reduce fat accumulation and suppress lipogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

BACKGROUND Saponins have been shown to possess many pharmacological properties, including altered fat metabolism. The black sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota, is a marine animal that contains a specialized organ called a Cuvierian tubule that produces and secrete the bioactive saponins into the tubules and body wall. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate the anti‐obesity effect of saponins extracted from body wall and Cuvierian tubules of H. leucospilota. RESULTS The butanol extracts of H. leucospilota body wall and Cuvierian tubules containing high amounts of saponins significantly reduced fat deposition and triglyceride levels in Caenorhabditis elegans fed with 50 mmol L−1 glucose. Moreover, the saponin‐enriched extracts of H. leucospilota significantly restored the lifespan of 2% glucose‐fed worms (18.71%). Green fluorescence protein‐labeled sbp‐1 gene expression and nuclear translocation of daf‐16 were also significantly decreased in H. leucospilota treatment. The saponin‐enriched extracts downregulated the messenger RNA expressions of genes involved in fat storage and metabolism, including sbp‐1, cebp, and daf‐16 but upregulated the expression of nhr‐49 gene. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that H. leucospilota‐derived saponins may mediate the reduction of glucose‐induced fat accumulation through sbp‐1, cebp, daf‐16 and nhr‐9 pathways. Therefore, the H. leucospilota extracts could be used as nutraceuticals for anti‐obesity prevention. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

In Vivo and Clinical Studies of Sea Cucumber-Derived Bioactives for Human Health and Nutrition From 2012-2021

“…Saponin-enriched extracts from Holothuria leucospilota significantly reduced the fat deposition and triglyceride levels in a high glucose fed Caenorhabditis elegans model by downregulating the messenger RNA expressions of genes involved in fat storage and metabolism, including sbp-1, cebp, and daf-16 and upregulating the expression of nhr-49 gene (Chumphoochai et al, 2019).…”

Saponin‐rich extracts fromHolothuria leucospilotamediate lifespan extension and stress resistance inCaenorhabditis elegansviadaf‐16

“…We recently reported that H. leucospilota extracts exhibit an anti‐Parkinson effect in a C. elegans model of PD (Malaiwong et al, ). Another study from our laboratory also demonstrated that supplementation of H. leucospiota extracts can reduce fat deposition and triglyceride levels of a C. elegans model of obesity (Chumphoochai, Chalorak, Suphamungmee, Sobhon, & Meemon, ). However, little is known about whether H. leucospiota saponin is able to promote lifespan extension and stress resistance in any organisms and the mechanisms underlying an anti‐aging activity of H. leucospiota saponin has not been elucidated.…”

Anti-Parkinson Effects of Holothuria leucospilota-Derived Palmitic Acid in Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Parkinson’s Disease

“…Although the type of lipids in C. elegans NL5901 was not investigated in this study, it is possible that H. leucospilota -derived palmitic acid might reduce the augmentation of toxic unsaturated fatty acids which then reduced the aggregation propensity of α-synuclein in NL5901 worms. Previous study demonstrated that the body wall extract of H. leucospilota reduced fat accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis in the C. elegans model of obesity [ 59 ]. However, the mechanistic aspects of this event need to be studied in more detail.…”