A Fraction of Acorus calamus L. extract devoid of β-asarone Enhances adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2007-06, Vol.21 (6), p.562-564
• Main Authors: Wu, Hao-shu, Li, Ying-yin, Weng, Lin-jia, Zhou, Chang-xin, He, Qiao-jun, Lou, Yi-jia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 cell; 3T3-L1 Cells; Acetates - chemistry; Acorus - chemistry; Acorus calamus L; adipocyte differentiation; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipocytes - metabolism; Animals; Anisoles - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; ethyl acetate fraction; General pharmacology; Glucose Transporter Type 4 - metabolism; insulin-sensitizing; Medical sciences; Mice; Molecular Structure; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Thiazolidinediones - pharmacology; Triglycerides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2112

The effects of fractions partitioned from the ethanol extract of Acorus calamus L. (AC) on adipocyte differentiation were investigated using cultured mouse 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. The degree of differentiation was evaluated by measuring the cellular triglycerides and protein expression of the glucose transporter GLUT4 in 3T3‐L1 cells. The ethyl acetate fraction of the AC extract (ACE) was found to enhance adipocyte differentiation as did rosiglitazone. The results of further fractionation of ACE indicated that the active fraction does not consist of β‐asarone, which is a toxic component of this plant. This finding suggests that ACE has potential insulin‐sensitizing activity like rosiglitazone, and may improve type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.