Anti-Obesity Effects of Petasites japonicus (Meowi) Ethanol Extract on RAW 264.7 Macrophages and 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Its Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds

Short-Term Effects of PJE Administration on Metabolic Parameters in Diet-Induced Obesity Mice

The study investigated the effects of Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. extract (PJE) and fenofibrate on diet-induced obesity (DIO) in mice. PJE was found to contain various bio-active polyphenolic compounds, including kaempferol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, rutin, protocatechuic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, p-coumaric acid, apigenin, and 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid. The results showed that PJE treatment up to 1000 μg/mL did not affect the viability of 3T3-L1 cell line, and it reduced the feed efficiency ratio in DIO mice. PJE administration also resulted in a significant reduction in body weight gain and fat accumulation in the liver compared to the DIO control group. Additionally, PJE administration improved the levels of lipid and related parameters, including total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, leptin, and atherogenic or cardiac indexes compared to the DIO control group. The study suggested that PJE may have a beneficial effect on insulin resistance, lipid profiles, atherogenesis, adipokines, and cardiac risk associated with diet-induced obesity.

Naringin reduces fat deposition by promoting the expression of lipolysis and β-oxidation related genes

AIMS

Naringin, a flavonoid present in citrus fruits, has been known for the capacity to reduce lipid synthesis and anti-inflammatory. In this study, we investigated whether naringin increases lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation to change fat deposition.

METHODS

In in vivo experiment, obese adult mice (20-weeks-old, n = 18) were divided into control group fed with normal diet and naringin-treated group fed with naringin-supplemented diet (5 g/kg) for 60 days, respectively. In in vitro experiment, differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for four days with or without naringin (100 µg/mL).

RESULTS

Supplementing naringin significantly reduced the body weight, abdominal fat weight, blood total cholesterol content of mice, but did not affect food intake. In addition, naringin decreased levels of pro-inflammatory factors in adipose tissue including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). Naringin increased the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key factor in cellular energy metabolism, and raised the ratio of p-AMPK/AMPK in mouse liver tissue. The protein expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), phospho-HSL563 (p-HSL563), p-HSL563/HSL, and adipocyte triglyceride lipase (ATGL) was significantly increased in the adipose tissue of naringin-treated mice. Furthermore, naringin enhanced the expression of fatty acid β-oxidation genes, including carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (AOX1) in mouse adipose tissue. In in vitro experiment, similar findings were observed in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with naringin treatment. The treatment remarkably reduced intracellular lipid content, increased the number of mitochondria and promoted the gene expression of HSL, ATGL, CPT1, AOX1, and UCP2 and the phosphorylation of HSL protein.

CONCLUSION

Naringin reduced body fat in obese mice and lipid content in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which was associated with enhanced AMPK activation and upregulation of the expression of the lipolytic genes HSL, ATGL, and β-oxidation genes CPT1, AOX1, and UCP2.

Effect of Coffee on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Immortalized Human Oral Keratinocytes

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease that is strongly influenced by dietary habits. Coffee is one of the most common dietary components; however, current research on the relationship between coffee consumption and periodontitis, as well as its underlying mechanisms, is limited. Based on a previous report, caffeine (CA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) were formulated into artificial coffee (AC) for this experiment. Cell viability, prostaglandin E2 release, Western blotting, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) translocation analyses were performed to explore the effects of AC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immortalized human oral keratinocytes (IHOKs) and elucidate their underlying mechanisms. AC pretreatment attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory mediator release, ROS production, and nuclear factor kappa B translocation in IHOKs. CA and CGA promoted AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and down-regulated the nuclear factor-κB pathways to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, CGA promoted Nrf2 translocation and heme oxygenase-1 expression and showed anti-oxidative effects. Furthermore, AC, CA, and CGA components showed synergistic effects. Thus, we predict that coffee consumption may be beneficial for alleviating periodontitis. Moreover, the main coffee components CA and CGA seem to play a synergistic role in periodontitis.

Aqueous extract of Petasites japonicus leaves promotes osteoblast differentiation via up-regulation of Runx2 and Osterix in MC3T3-E1 cells

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Petasites japonicus Maxim (P. japonicus) has been used as an edible and medicinal plant and contains many bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of P. japonicus on osteogenesis.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The leaves and stems of P. japonicus were separated and extracted with hot water or ethanol, respectively. The total phenolic compound and total polyphenol contents of each extract were measured, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of each extract was evaluated to determine their effect on bone metabolism. To investigate the effect on osteoblast differentiation of the aqueous extract of P. japonicus leaves (AL), which produced the highest ALP activity among the tested extracts, collagen content was measured using the Sirius Red staining method, mineralization using the Alizarin Red S staining method, and osteocalcin production through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. Also, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the mRNA expression levels of Runt-related transcriptional factor 2 (Runx2) and Osterix.

RESULTS

Among the 4 P. japonicus extracts, AL had the highest values in all of the following measures: total phenolic compounds, total polyphenols, and ALP activity, which is a major biomarker of osteoblast differentiation. The AL-treated MC3T3-E1 cells showed significant increases in induced osteoblast differentiation, collagen synthesis, mineralization, and osteocalcin production. In addition, mRNA expressions of Runx2 and Osterix, transcription factors that regulate osteoblast differentiation, were significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that AL can regulate osteoblasts differentiation, at least in part through Runx2 and Osterix. Therefore, it is highly likely that P. japonicus will be useful as an alternate therapeutic for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Single and Repeated Oral Dose Toxicity and Genotoxicity of the Leaves of Butterbur

Butterbur (Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim) leaves are available to consumers in the marketplace, but there is no guarantee that they are safe for human consumption. Previously, we demonstrated that hot water extracts of P. japonicus leaves (KP-1) had anti-inflammatory properties and attenuated memory impairment. However, data regarding KP-1 toxicity are lacking. This study assessed the safety of KP-1 by examining oral and genotoxic effects using in vivo and in vitro tests, respectively. In a single oral dose toxicity and two-week repeated oral dose toxicity study, we observed no toxicologically significant clinical signs or changes in hematology, blood chemistry, and organ weights at any dose during the experiment. Following a thirteen-week repeated oral dose, toxicity, hyperkeratosis, and squamous cell hyperplasia of the limiting ridge in the stomach were observed. The no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) was found to be 1250 mg/kg/day in male and female rats. However, hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia were not considered to be of toxicological significance when extrapolating the NOAEL to humans because the limiting ridge in the stomach is species-specific to rats. Therefore, in our study, the NOAEL was considered to be 5000 mg/kg/day when the changes in the stomach’s limiting ridge were discounted. Moreover, in vitro bacterial reverse mutations and chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells and the in vivo micronucleus in Institute of cancer research (ICR) mice assays showed that KP-1 possessed no mutagenicity. Although additional research is required, these toxicological evaluations suggest that KP-1 could be safe for human consumption.

Network Pharmacology Study to Interpret Signaling Pathways of Ilex cornuta Leaves against Obesity

Ilex cornuta Leaves (ICLs) are a representative and traditional prescription for controlling obesity. Nevertheless, the corresponding therapeutic compounds and related pharmacological mechanisms of such medication remain undocumented. The compounds from ICLs were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrum (GC-MS), and SwissADME confirmed their physicochemical properties. Next, the target proteins related to compounds or obesity-associated proteins were retrieved from public databases. RPackage constructed the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, a bubble chart, and signaling pathways–target proteins–compounds (STC) network. Lastly, a molecular docking test (MDT) was performed to evaluate the affinity between target proteins and ligands from ICLs. GC-MS detected a total of 51 compounds from ICLs. The public databases identified 219 target proteins associated with selective compounds, 3028 obesity-related target proteins, and 118 overlapping target proteins. Moreover, the STC network revealed 42 target proteins, 22 signaling pathways, and 39 compounds, which were viewed to be remedially significant. The NOD-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathway was considered a key signaling pathway from the bubble chart. In parallel, the MDT identified three target proteins (IL6, MAPK1, and CASP1) on the NLR signaling pathway and four compounds against obesity. Overall, four compounds from ICLs might show anti-obesity synergistic efficacy by inactivating the NLR signaling pathway.