The Effect of Methanolic Valeriana officinalis Root Extract on Adipocyte Differentiation and Adiponectin Production in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ and its endocrine function is closely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) exerts some physiological effects; however, its influence on adipocytes remains unclear. We investigated the effect of methanolic Valerian root extract (Vale) on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Vale (1, 10, and 100 mu g/mL) dose-dependently promoted adipocyte differentiation with increasing lipid accumulation. In addition, Vale significantly increased the mRNA levels in genes associated with adipocyte differentiation, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha , and adipocyte protein 2, in dose-dependent manner. Vale also significantly enhanced mRNA and protein levels in adiponectin. A PPAR gamma antagonist assay and a PPAR gamma binding assay revealed that Vale-induced increased adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin production were partly associated with direct binding to PPAR gamma. Valerenic acid, a characteristic component in Valerian, also demonstrated the ability to induce adipocyte differentiation and adiponectin secretion, suggesting that it is one of the functional components in Vale.