Bioactive fraction from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves (DLBS3733) reduces fat droplet by inhibiting adipogenesis and lipogenesis

Effect of Presowing Treatments on Seed Germination and Growth Performance of 1-Year Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers Seedlings in Northeast India

Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers (Lythraceae family), called pride of India, is an important ornamental and medicinal plant having a very high demand for its fruits. Six presowing treatments, that is, hot water, cold treatment, cow dung, H2SO4, gibberellic acid (GA3), and scarification, were used to evaluate the effect of treatments on seed germination, mean germination time, and germination energy and monitor the growth performance of seedling as well as seedling quality index of L. speciosa. Among the different treatments, hot water recorded the highest germination percentage (51.95%). However, minimum mean germination time was achieved by H2SO4 treatment (21.17 days). Additionally, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in germination rate among treatments and the number of seeds germinated per day among treatments. The mean seedling height of L. speciosa reached a maximum height of 104 cm and a diameter of 10.67 mm in 1 year. We found a strong relation between seedling height and soil temperature (r = 0.56) and between seedling characteristics and biomass parameters, while there was a negative correlation with the total percentage of water content. The Dickson quality index of the seedlings was found to be 2.68. Our findings recommend hot water as the best treatment for ensuring quality seedlings, and seedlings of 1 year is sufficiently robust for large-scale afforestation and reforestation programs.

Thidiazuron Induced In Vitro Clonal Propagation of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.—An Important Avenue Tree

A high throughput regeneration protocol has been developed for Lagerstroemia speciosa through node explants under the regime of various plant growth regulators (PGRs). This protocol can provide an alternative mode to seed-grown plants and minimize the cost–time of regeneration, significantly. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various combinations of PGRs exhibited a marked stimulatory effect on morphogenesis. Of the various combinations tried, node explant pretreated with thidiazuron (TDZ; 5.0 µM) for 4 weeks and followed with transfer into MS medium containing 1.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.25 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was reported to be the best treatment as it resulted in a maximum number of 24.5 shoots with an average shoot length of 7.1 cm per explant in 90% of cultures after 12 weeks of incubation. The in vitro-generated shoots rooted satisfactorily in the adopted ex vitro method of rooting, which saves time and cost. Among the different treatments, the greatest rooting percentage (85%) was observed in the 200 μM IBA-treated shoots, with the highest root number (8.7) and length (3.4 cm) occurring after 4 weeks. Four months after being transferred to ex vitro, some of the physiological attributes of the in vitro-propagated plants were examined and compared to the ex vitro plants. Further, analysis of the genetic integrity in tissue culture-raised plantlets along with the parental tree was accomplished through DNA-based RAPD technique. The monomorphic banding pattern obtained by the RAPD primers resulted in a high level of genetic uniformity in regenerated plants.

CU06-1004 modulates the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-associated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and inhibits lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-induced obese mice

AIMS

The endothelial dysfunction blocker CU06-1004 exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in chronic diseases. Obesity is a major cause of chronic inflammation, and the effect of CU06-1004 on obesity has not been studied yet. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-obesity properties of CU06-1004 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

METHODS

Differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with various concentrations of CU06-1004 (0-20 μg/mL) and subjected to Oil Red O staining to determine the levels of lipid droplet and intracellular triglyceride accumulation. Additionally, high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice were administered with a low (10 mg/kg/day) or high (20 mg/kg/day) oral dose of CU06-1004. Finally, the expressions of genes and proteins involved in the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.

KEY FINDINGS

The CU06-1004 administration reduced lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, fatty acid binding protein 4, and fatty acid synthase in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, it significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMPKα and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. An oral administration of high dose of CU06-1004 in the obese mice significantly decreased their body weight and the mesenteric white adipose tissue weight. Furthermore, CU06-1004 improved hepatic steatosis by reducing lipogenesis, besides improving insulin resistance and exerting systemic anti-inflammatory effects.

SIGNIFICANCE

Therefore, CU06-1004 may have therapeutic potential in the prevention of obesity and obesity-related disorders.

Potential Antiaging Effects of DLBS1649, a Centella asiatica Bioactive Extract

Purpose

Centella asiatica is a traditional medicinal plant, especially for wound healing and as a neuroprotective agent. DLBS1649 is a bioactive extract from C. asiatica, and was studied to investigate its benefits as an antiaging agent.

Methods

DLBS1649 was administered to HEK293 and 3T3L1 mammalian cells cultured in a time- or dose-dependent manner. Telomere length analysis was performed. TERT, CMYC, SIRT1, SIRT2, and KL expression were observed using reverse-transcription qPCR. Telomerase protein was studied with ELISA, while calorie restriction was observed using Oil Red O. In vivo study was conducted using Drosophila melanogaster with restricted mean survival time as the statistical method of analysis.

Results

DLBS1649 50 µg/mL showed an effect in the prevention of telomere shortening by 50% and decrease in telomerase activity by 28% compared to the controls (70% and 40%, respectively) in the HEK293 cell cultures. TERT-, CMYC-, SIRT1-, SIRT2-, and KL-expression degression was also reduced (29%, 9%, 18%, 25%, 9%, and 30%, respectively) compared to the controls (46%, 40%, 56%, 44%, and 46%, respectively) after ten serial passages. Calorie-restriction activity from DLBS1649 50 µg/mL was seen, with lower fat droplet counts being detected in the treated samples (37%) than the controls (28%) in 3T3L1 cells. DLBS1649 2 mg/mL increased restricted mean survival time in male and female D. melanogaster (23.87% [p<0.05] and 12.58%, respectively).

Conclusion

The results revealed DLBS1649’s potential as an antiaging agent based on telomere-length preservation, decreased expression of aging-related genes, increased calorie restriction in vitro, and mortality reduction in D. melanogaster in vivo.

Molecular mechanism of DLBS3733, a bioactive fraction of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers., on ameliorating hepatic lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers., commonly known as banaba and locally known as bungur, is widely used in Indonesia and other countries as a folk remedy for various chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. L. speciosa (L.) Pers. has been used and evaluated on conditions associated to liver diseases by altering cholesterol absorption, lipid metabolism, as well as the related gene expressions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of DLBS3733, a standardized bioactive fraction of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. leaves, on ameliorating hepatic steatosis induced by oleic acid, and elucidate its mechanism of action to ameliorate lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effects of DLBS3733 on expression of genes and proteins associated with lipid metabolism were evaluated in HepG2 cells in this study. Genes associated with lipid metabolism were evaluated using PCR, while the protein levels were revealed using western blot and ELISA. Cellular lipid accumulations and triglyceride (TG) synthesis were measured using ELISA, and antioxidant assay was conducted using DPPH assay.

RESULTS

DLBS3733 significantly reduced lipid accumulation and TG synthesis by 51% and 32% (p < 0.01), respectively, through the significant increment of adiponectin expression by 58% (p < 0.01). Subsequently, adiponectin enhanced PPARα expression and AMPK phosphorylation which further regulate the downstream signaling pathway of lipogenesis and lipolysis. Moreover, 2.5 µg/mL DLBS3733 was found to significantly downregulate the expression of HMGCR, ACC and SREBP by 66%, 61% and 36%, respectively (p < 0.01), as well as significantly upregulate CPT-1 by 300% at the protein level (P < 0.05). DLBS3733 was also found to possess high antioxidant activity, where the highest concentration exhibited DPPH inhibition activity by up to 93% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that DLBS3733 may provide a prevention on hepatic steatosis through its activity as anti-lipogenesis, anti-cholesterologenesis and pro-lipolysis in HepG2 cells. This is the first report that revealed the molecular mechanism of L. speciosa (L.) Pers. as a potential treatment of hepatic steatosis-related diseases.

Eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids lessen the expression of PPARγ/Cidec affecting adipogenesis in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have benefits in the metabolism of adipose tissue. However, its contribution to the adipogenesis is not entirely elucidated. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of EPA and DHA on adipogenesis, especially in the PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma) and Cidec (cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector c) pathway. Twenty-four hours after confluence, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with EPA (100 μM), DHA (50μM) and EPA (100μM) + DHA (50μM) and at the end of differentiation (day 11) the cells were collected for analysis. Cell viability analysis indicated that the concentrations used for EPA and DHA did not cause cytotoxicity in cultured 3T3l1 adipocytes. The treatments have lessened the triacylglycerol accumulation in the adipocyte cytoplasm that, compared to the control group, were EPA-32%, DHA-38%, EPA + DHA -24%. The double-labeling immunofluorescence showed a signal attenuation of protein expressions of PPARγ, CIDEC, and SREBP-1c (sterol regulatory element-binding protein). EPA and DHA had a significant impact on the expression of cleaved CASPASE 3, which increases cell apoptosis and gene expressions of Pparγ and Cidec in the treated groups. Also, there was a reduction of C/ebpα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha), Cd36 (cluster differentiation 36), and Foxo1 (forkhead box O). In conclusion, the study determined the ability of both EPA and DHA, alone or combined, in the adipogenesis modulation in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, affecting the cell differentiation, maturation, and consequently, reducing adipogenesis via PPARγ-CIDEC suppression.