18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits adipogenic differentiation and stimulates lipolysis.

Myung-Hee Moon, Jae-Kyo Jeong, You-Jin Lee, Jae-Won Seol, Dong-Choon Ahn, In-Shik Kim, Sang-Youel Park

Center for Healthcare Technology Development, Biosafety Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk 561-756, South Korea.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2012 Apr 20

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18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) obtained from the herb liquorice has various pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities. However, potential biological anti-obesity activities are unclear. In this study, novel biological activities of 18β-GA in the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and in lipolysis of differentiated adipocytes were identified. Mouse 3T3-L1 cells were used as an in vitro model of adipogenesis and lipolysis, using a mixture of insulin/dexamethasone/3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) to induce differentiation. The amount of lipid droplet accumulation was determined by an AdipoRed assay. The expression of several adipogenic transcription factors and enzymes was investigated using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. 18β-GA dose-dependently (1-40 μM) significantly decreased lipid accumulation in maturing preadipocytes. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 10 μM of 18β-GA down-regulated the transcriptional levels of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α and adiponectin, which are markers of adipogenic differentiation via Akt phosphorylation. Also, in differentiated adipocytes, 18β-GA increased the level of glycerol release and up-regulated the mRNA of hormone-sensitive lipase, adipose TG lipase and perilipin, as well as the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase at Serine 563. The results indicate that 18β-GA alters fat mass by directly affecting adipogenesis in maturing preadipocytes and lipolysis in matured adipocytes. Thus, 18β-GA may be useful for the treatment of obesity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Myung-Hee Moon, Jae-Kyo Jeong, You-Jin Lee, Jae-Won Seol, Dong-Choon Ahn, In-Shik Kim, Sang-Youel Park. 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits adipogenic differentiation and stimulates lipolysis. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2012 Apr 20;420(4):805-10