Identification of Sedum kamtschaticum, Lythrum anceps, and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii as inhibitors of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ expression and lipid accumulation

Screening of wild vegetable extracts led to isolation of Sedum kamtschaticum, Lythrum anceps, and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii as putative anti-adipogenic herbal extracts. Cell viability, lipid accumulation, and adipocyte marker expression were determined to validate the effects of the selected extracts on adipogenesis. All extracts suppressed lipid accumulation in C3H10T1/2 cells, primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These extracts inhibited mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR_γ) and its downstream target genes such as adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), lipoprotein lipase, adiponectin, and CD36. Treatment with these extracts also consistently suppressed PPAR_γ and aP2 protein expressions. Additionally, these extracts generated from different parts and/or various harvest periods similarly inhibited adipocyte differentiation. Results showed the extracts have potential beneficial roles in obesity and related metabolic syndromes.