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This study explores the potential of indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from Vitis vinifera L. grape skins to improve the quality of regional wines by enhancing their physicochemical and sensory characteristics. Five promising yeast strains were identified at different stages of fermentation: Hanseniaspora opuntiae (J1Y-T1), H. guilliermondii (Y5P-T5), H. uvarum (JF3-T1N), Pichia kudriavzevii (Y8P-T8), and Starmerella bacillaris (WMP4-T4). Among these, H. uvarum and S. bacillaris were particularly noteworthy due to their superior alcohol production, achieving levels of 8.16 ± 0.05% and 8.04 ± 0.04% (v/v), respectively, and demonstrating higher alcohol tolerance even in later fermentation stages. Hanseniaspora uvarum also showed exceptional resilience, with a half-life of 3.34 ± 0.03 days and a Km value of 1.0200 ± 0.0100 mol L⁻¹, achieving the highest biomass even in the later stages of fermentation. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis revealed that while tartaric acid levels remained constant, malic acid content decreased, and acetic acid was produced by all strains. Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry identified ethyl acetate as the dominant volatile compound, with H. uvarum producing the highest concentration (43.411 ± 1.602%), contributing to a fruitier aroma and flavor. The combined attributes of H. uvarum higher alcohol content, enhanced fruity notes, improved clarity, lower acetic acid (0.52 ± 0.03 g L⁻¹), and significant residual sugar (162.37 ± 2.48 g L⁻¹) make it a promising candidate for improving the overall quality of regional wines. Incorporating H. uvarum into mixed starter cultures with specific Saccharomyces strains could further optimize the wine fermentation process.

The aim was to perform an in-depth characterization of pteryxin in the anti-obesity related molecular mechanisms using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Cells were treated with pteryxin 20 (PTX20) or 50 (PTX50) μg/mL during cell differentiation or maintenance period. Pteryxin dose-dependently suppressed adipogenic gene network. PTX20 downregulated key lipogenic genes suppressing fatty acid synthesis allotting the anti-adipogenesis in the late adipocyte formation stage. PTX50 downregulated adipogenesis related genes, and accelerated lipolytic activity by repressing the adipocyte size marker gene, MEST. In addition to Wnt5a, PTX50 suppressed adipocyte differentiation through TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway with the maximum adiposity inhibition in the early stage of adipogenesis and regulated the carbohydrate metabolism. Pteryxin regulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AMPK, and decreased p38 MAPK to repress the mature adipocyte formation. Overall, we have demonstrated the anti-adipogenic characteristics of pteryxin consistent to its dose. PTX50 may serve as a potential candidate to ameliorate adiposity and improve the carbohydrate metabolism.

Several types of coumarins have been isolated from Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) and we previously reported the anti-obesity activity of pteryxin (PTX), as an active compound of PJT. However, during our research, we identified another variety of PJT, which does not contain any PTX. Here, we prepared concentrates from the two varieties of PJT and demonstrated that dietary PJT concentrates both with and without PTX significantly decreased the relative weights of white adipose tissue (WAT) and mRNA levels of lipogenic genes in epididymal WAT. Furthermore, we compared the inhibitory effects of dihydropyranocoumarins of PJT on lipid accumulation of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. All of the dihydropyranocoumarins used in this study significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and lipogenic-related gene expressions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, the magnitudes of the effects were distinctly different. The present study demonstrated that several dihydropyranocoumarins in PJT possess anti-obesity activities, which mainly act by inhibiting lipogenesis in adipocytes.

Cirsium brevicaule A. GRAY is a wild perennial herb, and its roots (CbR) have traditionally been used as both food and medicine on the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Amami. The present study evaluated the antiadipogenic effect of CbR using mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line 3T3-L1 from JCRB cell bank. Dried CbR powder was serially extracted with solvents of various polarities, and these crude extracts were tested for antiadipogenic activity. Treatment with the methanol extract of CbR showed a significant suppression of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Methanol extract of CbR was then fractionated and subjected to further activity analyses. The phenylpropanoid glycosidic molecule syringin was identified as an active compound. Syringin dose dependently suppressed lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 cells without cytotoxicity, and significantly reduced the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, the master regulator of adipogenesis, and other differentiation markers. It was demonstrated that syringin effectively enhanced the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. These results indicate that syringin attenuates adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis, and promotes lipid metabolism; thus, syringin may potentially serve as a therapeutic candidate for treatment of obesity.

Objective: Crude ethanolic extract of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) has been identified as an antiobesity and antidiabetic candidate. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms related to the antiobesity activity of partially purified PJT ethanol extract in vitro. Methods: PJT ethanol extract (EE) was partitioned into hexane phase (HP) and residual water phase. The effect of PJT extracts on triacylglycerol (TG) content, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and energy expenditure was assessed in vitro in 3T3-L1, HepG2, and C2C12 cells. Furthermore, the active components in PJT extracts were partially profiled by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Results: The HP significantly down-regulated lipogenic gene expressions in hepatocytes, inhibited TG accumulation, and decreased the size of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, the inhibition of lipid accumulation was at maximum during the adipocyte maturation stage. Furthermore, we found an increase in fat hydrolysis by HP in 3T3-L1. In C2C12 myotubes, the HP tended to enhance energy expenditure. HPLC analysis demonstrated that hydrophobic compounds available in the HP were responsible for antiobesity, which corresponded to the latter peaks on the HPLC chromatogram of EE. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the HP plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism-related gene expressions and energy expenditure in vitro. The results thus provide insight on the activity of HP involved in suppressing obesity and its chemical entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various flavonoids obtained from the genus Cirsium have been reported to exhibit beneficial effects on health. The present study evaluated the antiobesity effects of Cirsium brevicaule A. GRAY leaf (CL) by using 3T3-L1 cells and C57BL/6 mice that were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Dried CL powder was serially extracted with solvents of various polarities, and these extracts were tested for antiadipogenic activity using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Mice were fed experimental HFD supplemented with dried CL powder for 4 wk. Lipid levels and mRNA levels of genes related to lipid metabolism were determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver of mice fed on a HFD. Results: Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a hexane extract of CL significantly reduced cellular lipid accumulation and expression of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene. Dietary CL reduced the serum levels of nonesterified fatty acids in HFD-fed mice. Significant decreases in subcutaneous WAT weight and associated FASN gene expression were observed in the mice fed the experimental CL diet. Dietary CL also reduced the hepatic lipid and serum levels of a hepatopathic indicator in the HFD-fed mice. A significant reduction in mRNA levels of FASN and HMG-CoA reductase were observed in the livers of the CL-diet group. Dietary CL, on the other hand, increased in the hepatic mRNA levels of genes related to β-oxidation, namely peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, calnitine palmitoyltrasferase 1A, and uncoupling protein 2. Expression of the insulin receptor gene was also significantly increased in the livers of mice-fed the CL diet. Conclusions: The present study therefore demonstrated that CL suppresses lipid accumulation in the WAT and liver partly through inhibiting mRNA levels of FASN gene and enhancing the lipolysis-related gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]