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Promotion of brown adipose tissue phenotype, able to transform energy into heat, is a promising target against obesity development. We investigated the effects of a standardized extract from Cynara cardunculus L. (CCLE) leaves, considered a waste food resource, on adipogenesis inhibition in 3T3-L1 cells, through the thermogenic process involvement. CCLE inhibited adipogenesis (C/EBPβ, PPAR-γ, FABP4, SREBP-1, and FASN) and increased thermogenesis via upregulation of AMPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, CCLE induced FOXO1 pathway as adipogenesis repressive mechanism affecting PPAR-γ activity and induced the expression of cell cycle inhibitor p21. However, pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C abolished CCLE effects on FOXO1, p21, C/EBPβ, and PPAR-γ. These data confirmed that the antiadipogenic effect of the extract is related to AMPK activation. Therefore, this work provides new perspectives for the use of this extract in obesity prevention and management. Additionally, reuse/recycling of waste food resources provides added value from a circular economy perspective.

Many studies reported the positive synergy between polyphenols and probiotics. Probiotics are known for their positive and beneficial effects on human intestinal health, and their interactions with polyphenolic compounds and metabolites may increase health benefits improving intestinal barrier function and modulating the gut microbiota. Here a symbiotic strategy of quercetin (QUE) and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 antimicrobial and antiadhesion properties against E. coli was evaluated on intestinal Caco-2 differentiated cells. Our study demonstrates that QUE improves LA5 auto-aggregation and LA5 and E. coli coaggregation. Additionally, LA5 decreased the adhesion of E. coli to Caco-2 cells mainly via exclusion antagonism than competition assay. Interestingly, QUE did not affect LA5 effects on E. coli adhesion, but synergically improved the barrier function of Caco-2 cells improving TEER values, claudin-1 expression and reducing proinflammatory COX-2 expression. Data confirmed the LA5 and QUE synergism supporting their combined use in the prevention or treatment of pathogen diseases.