OLEACEIN INHIBITS ADIPOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION IN 3T3-L1 CELLS

Obesity is becoming a public health threat worldwide, especially in developed countries, because it raises the risk of various diseases. Overweight and obesity are mainly caused by excessive caloric intake that exceeds the daily needs of the body, as well as low physical activity. Since in highly developed countries there is an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, which may lead to diseases of the cardiovascular system, the substances, including substances of plant origin, that can prevent the occurrence of such diseases are sought. Oleacein, which is a secoiridoid found in olive leaves and oil, has been reported to have some beneficial biochemical and pharmacological effects. The present study shows how that compound affects adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1. To perform this study, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with oleacein in variable concentrations. Viability was analyzed through the neutral red and the MTT assays, and triglycerides were stained with Oil Red O. Cells differentiation was analyzed under an inverted microscope. Oleacein at a concentration range of 6.25-50 mu mol/L suppressed intracellular triglyceride accumulation during adipocyte differentiation in a concentration-dependent manner without effect on cell viability. These findings indicate that oleacein is capable of preventing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation and adipogenesis.