Trichosanthis Radix inhibits 3T3‐L1 adipogenesis

Abstract

There is an increase in the prevalence of obesity and its related health problems. While dietary management and exercise help reduce the accumulation of body fat, recently attention has also been drawn to many medicinal herbs as the possible strategies for fat reduction in addition to medications. In the present study, we examined the effects of extracts from Trichosanthis Radix by ethanol (RE) or water (RW) on the differentiation of 3T3‐L1. Extracts were applied either during differentiation or after induction of cell differentiation for 8 days. We tested fat droplets accumulation by Oil Red O staining and triglyceride assay at the end of study. Treatment of differentiating 3T3‐L1 cells with RE or RW shows a significant decreased fat accumulation (% of reduction: RE 40%~50% and RW 50%~60%). Application of these extracts after the formation of adipocytes reduces fat accumulation to a lesser extent. To study the underlying mechanisms, we analyze the expressions of SRBP‐1, PPARγ and C/EBPα, which are important transcription factors for cell differentiation. Treatment of RW is able to reduce their expressions during early cell differentiation. In conclusion, these results indicate that water extracts of Trichosanthis Radix are more effective in inhibition of fat accumulation which is possible mediated through the decreased expressions of SRBP‐1, PPARγ and C/EBPα.