Inhibitory effects of Porphyra dentata extract on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation

This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Porphyra dentata (P dentata) extract on the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells and evaluate its anti-obesity effect. The proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells and differentiation of adipocytes under treatment of P. dentata extract was examined by measuring the cell viability using alamarBlue assay and lipid droplets by Oil Red O staining. Results showed that P dentata extract has no cytotoxicity effect and lipid droplets formation decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. It has been confirmed that transcription factors affecting lipid accumulation and anti-adipogenic effects during cell differentiation are linked to P. dentata extract. We observed that P. dentata shows lowering the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPAR gamma 2), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) that adipogenesis-associated key transcription factors and inhibiting adipogenesis in the early stages of differentiation. Treating the cells with P. dentata did not only suppressed PPAR gamma 2 and C/EBP alpha but also significantly decreased the mRNA expression of adiponectin, Leptin, fatty acid synthase, adipocyte protein 2, and Acetyl-coA carboxylase 1. Overall, the P. dentata extract demonstrated inhibitory property in adipogenesis, which has a potential effect in anti-obesity in 3T3-L1 cells.