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Obesity and related complications are significant health issues in modern society, largely attributed to a sedentary lifestyle and a carbohydrate-rich diet. Since anti-obesity drugs often come with severe side effects, preventative measures are being sought globally, including dietary changes and functional foods that can counteract weight gain. In this context, plant-based metabolites are extensively studied for their advantageous biological effects against obesity. Several plants within the Artemisia genus have been reported to possess anti-adipogenic properties, preventing adipocytes from maturing and accumulating lipids. The present study investigated the anti-adipogenic potential of two sesquiterpenoids, reynosin and santamarine, isolated from A. scoparia in adipose-induced 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with these isolated compounds displayed fewer adipogenic characteristics compared to untreated mature adipocytes. The results indicated that cells treated with reynosin and santamarine accumulated 55.0% and 52.5% fewer intracellular lipids compared to untreated control adipocytes, respectively. Additionally, the mRNA expression of the key adipogenic marker, transcription factor PPARγ, was suppressed by 87.2% and 91.7% following 60 μM reynosin and santamarine treatment, respectively, in differentiated adipocytes. Protein expression was also suppressed in a similar manner, at 92.7% and 82.5% by 60 μM reynosin and santamarine treatment, respectively. Likewise, SERBP1c and C/EBPα were also downregulated at both gene and protein levels in adipocytes treated with samples during differentiation. Further analysis suggested that the anti-adipogenic effect of the compounds might be a result of AMPK activation and the subsequent suppression of MAPK phosphorylation. Overall, the present study suggested that sesquiterpenoids, reynosin, and santamarine were two potential bioactive compounds with anti-adipogenic properties. Further research is needed to explore other bioactive agents within A. scoparia and elucidate the in vivo action mechanisms of reynosin and santamarine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to isolate antiobesity components from the crude extract of Portulaca oleracea. The crude extract was partitioned into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol, n-butanol, and water fractions. Their effects on adipogenic differentiation were evaluated in 3T3-L1 cells. Among the solvent fractions from P. olearacea, the 85% aq. MeOH effectively reduced the levels of lipid accumulation. Further purification of 85% aq. MeOH led to the isolation of the known homoisoflavonoids 1–4, as the active substances. The administration of homoisoflavonoids to adipocyte cells decreased the lipid accumulation and glucose consumption and increased the release of glycerol into culture medium. In particular, homoisoflavonoid 3 effectively down-regulated the adipogenic transcription genes such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα), and adipogenic target genes such as fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), and acyl-CoA synthase 1 (ACS1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Derivatives of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) have been studied and reported as potent bioactive molecules possessing various health benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, the protective effect of 3,5-dicaffeoyl-epi-quinic acid (DCEQA) isolated from Atriplex gmelinii on UVB-induced damages was investigated in human HaCaT keratinocytes. The effect of DCEQA against UVB-induced oxidative stress-mediated damages was determined measuring its ability to alleviate UVB-induced elevation of oxidative stress, proinflammatory response and antioxidant enzyme suppression through nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2). Treatment with DCEQA hindered the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, COX-2, IL-6 and IL-1β following UVB exposure were suppressed by the introduction of DCEQA. Additionally, DCEQA upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase-1 and heme oxygenase-1 which were inhibited under UVB irradiation. Antioxidant enzyme regulation transcription factor Nrf2 was also upregulated in the presence of DCEQA. These results suggest that DCEQA prevents photoaging via protection of keratinocytes from UVB irradiation by ameliorating the oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: Compounds B 4 b and B 6 b were also effective in scavenging activity, with IC SB 50 sb values of 74.2 M and 96.6 M, respectively. Homoisoflavonoids B 1 b , B 2 b , B 5 b , and B 7 b showed the IC SB 50 sb value more than 100 M. For peroxynitrite from decomposition of SIN-1, B 3 b exhibited the strongest scavenging activity with IC SB 50 sb value of 44.0 M. The scavenging activities of other homoisoflavonoids were decreased in the following orders: B 4 b (47.2 M) > B 6 b (54.2 M) > B 1 b (79.4 M) > B 7 b (87.5 M) > B 2 b , B 5 b (>100 M). The scavenging activities were represented in the following order: B 3 b > B 4 b > B 1 b > B 6 b > B 7 b . Compounds B 6 b and B 7 b exerted the good inhibitory effect of growth against AGS cells, with IC SB 50 sb values of 41.4 and 85.7 M, respectively.