Anti-adipogenic effects of Corni fructus in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Obesity is the most common health problem in developed countries and is considered a significant risk factor for many major human diseases. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of herbal extracts on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We screened the extracts of 30 plants, used in traditional medicine to test their effects against obesity. Among the tested extracts, Corni fructus ethanolic extract (CFEE), significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation by more than 80% in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The level of adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells was measured by Oil Red O staining and the triglyceride content assay. Furthermore, CFEE inhibited adipocyte differentiation by suppressing the expression of the adipogenic transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), as confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. These results suggest that CFEE inhibits adipogenesis by suppressing the expression of adipogenic transcription factors.