Platycodin D, a novel activator of AMP-activated protein kinase, attenuates obesity in db/db mice via regulation of adipogenesis and thermogenesis.

Platycodi Radix (root of Platycodon grandiflorum) and its active compound platycodin D (PD) has been previously shown to possess anti-obesity properties, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-obese effect of PD and reveal its mechanism of action. Genetically obese db/db mice were orally treated with PD for 4 weeks, and body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, serum parameters were measured. Then, assays on adipogenic factors, thermogenic factors, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway were performed in PD-treated 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), and primary cultured brown adipocytes. PD treatment attenuated body weight gain, suppressed white adipose tissue weight and improved obesity-related serum parameters in db/db mice. Two major adipogenic factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) were decreased by PD treatment in WAT of db/db mice, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hAMSCs. In BAT of db/db mice and primary cultured brown adipocytes, PD treatment elevated the expressions of uncoupled protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 α (PCG1α), the key regulators of BAT-associated thermogenesis. In addition, PD activated AMPKα both in vivo and in vitro. However, when AMPK was inhibited by compound C, PD treatment failed to suppress adipogenic factors and increase thermogenic factors. PD improved obesity in db/db mice by AMPK-associated decrease of adipogenic markers including PPARγ and C/EBPα. PD increased thermogenic factors such as UCP1 and PGC1α in db/db mice and primary cultured brown adipocytes. AMPK inhibition nullified the effects of PD, suggesting its anti-adipogenic and thermogenic actions were dependent on AMPK pathway activation.

Kim HL ，Park J ，Jung Y ，Ahn KS ，Um JY ... -  《-》

Vanillic acid attenuates obesity via activation of the AMPK pathway and thermogenic factors in vivo and in vitro.

Jung Y ，Park J ，Kim HL ，Sim JE ，Youn DH ，Kang J ，Lim S ，Jeong MY ，Yang WM ，Lee SG ，Ahn KS ，Um JY ... -  《-》

Platycodon grandiflorum A. De Candolle Ethanolic Extract Inhibits Adipogenic Regulators in 3T3-L1 Cells and Induces Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Primary Brown Preadipocytes.

Kim HL ，Park J ，Park H ，Jung Y ，Youn DH ，Kang J ，Jeong MY ，Um JY ... -  《-》

Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium Linné) Improves Obesity by Regulating Adipogenesis and Thermogenesis through AMPK Activation.

Park J ，Kim HL ，Jung Y ，Ahn KS ，Kwak HJ ，Um JY ... -  《Nutrients》

Platycodin D inhibits lipogenesis through AMPKα-PPARγ2 in 3T3-L1 cells and modulates fat accumulation in obese mice.

Platycodin D (PD) has been reported to control obesity in vivo. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of PD, focusing on its ability to decrease the expression of adipogenic factors through AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) in adipocytes and its ability to prevent abdominal fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice. The inhibitory effect of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was measured by Oil Red O staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blotting. To determine the antiobesity effect in vivo, one group of mice were given a normal diet and the others were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. The high-fat diet mice were then assigned to one of three subgroups: aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), vehicle, and PD. PD significantly reduced fat accumulation by inhibiting adipogenic signal transcriptional factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), which functions via AMPK signaling, in vitro. PD reduced both body weight and fat volume; consequently, lipid metabolism was improved by increasing AMPKα, similar to AICAR, and reduced PPARγ2 and C/EBPα expression in adipose tissue. The results suggested that PD could be used to decrease the expression of adipogenic factors related to the AMPK pathway. Hence, PD could be an alternative treatment for controlling obesity by downregulating lipid accumulation.

Lee EJ ，Kang M ，Kim YS 《-》