Ethanolic extracts of Brazilian red propolis promote adipocyte differentiation through PPARγ activation

• Published in: Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) 2010-10, Vol.17 (12), p.974-979
• Main Authors: Iio, Akio, Ohguchi, Kenji, Inoue, Hiroyasu, Maruyama, Hiroe, Araki, Yoko, Nozawa, Yoshinori, Ito, Masafumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3-L1; 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocyte differentiation; Adipocytes - cytology; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipogenesis - drug effects; Adiponectin; Adiponectin - genetics; Adiponectin - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Dalbergia - chemistry; Diabetes; DNA binding proteins; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Insulin resistance; Liquid chromatography; Luciferase; Mice; Physiological aspects; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; PPAR gamma - genetics; PPAR gamma - metabolism; PPARγ; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Propolis - chemistry; Propolis - pharmacology; Red propolis; TNF-α; Transcriptional Activation - drug effects; Tumor necrosis factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0944-7113; 1618-095X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.001

The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of ethanolic extracts of red propolis (EERP) on adipogenesis and evaluate the molecular basis for their anti-obesity effects. We tested whether EERP alone could induce differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, regulate the expression of adipocyte-specific genes and reverse inhibitory effects of TNF-α on their differentiation. Next, we performed a luciferase reporter gene assay to test whether EERP could enhance transcriptional activities of PPARγ and adiponectin promoter activities. EERP strongly induced differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes, and enhanced the PPARγ transcriptional activity and adiponectin promoter activity. In addition, EERP attenuated the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin production in mature adipocytes. The present study indicates that EERP enhance differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes in part by its potency of PPARγ activation and are capable of reversing inhibitory effects of TNF-α on adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin expression. These results suggest the value of EERP as a diet supplement for prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders.