Water-extracted plum (Prunus salicina L-cv. Soldam) attenuates adipogenesis in murine 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of water-extracted plum (WEP) on adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis and inflammation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. WEP was assessed for basic analyses, including high-performance liquid chromatography, total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays] in vitro. Moreover, the cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Adipogenesis and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was investigated using Oil Red O staining, and the expression of genes and proteins associated with adipogenesis and lipolysis were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. In addition, sulforaphane using a positive control was performed simultaneously. The WEP significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes without cytotoxicity. WEP resulted in direct anti-obesity effects through the modulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine/enhancer binding protein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. These regulations of molecular expressions were significantly activated via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Moreover, these results provide potential anti-adipogenic effects of WEP and may have potential as a natural agent for the prevention and improvement of obesity.