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In vitro anti-obesity effect of Aloe vera extract through transcription factors and lipolysis-associated genes
Oruc Yunusoglu1, Ömer Türkmen2, Mehmet Berkoz3, Metin Yıldırım4, Serap Yalın51Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
4Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Tarsus University, Mersin, Turkey
5Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey
INTRODUCTION: In recent years, obesity has been associated with heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis, and become a global health problem. Therefore, researchers seek to find functional drugs against obesity. For the past few decades, medicinal plants have been examined to for their anti-obesity effects, including Aloe vera. In this study, it was aimed to elucidate the inhibitory effect of Aloe vera extract on adipogenesis.
METHODS: Firstly, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were stimulated so as to differentiate into mature adipocyte using adipogenic differentiation cocktail consisting of 10 μg/mL insulin, 0.5 mM isobutylmethylxanthine, 0.25 mM dexamethasone, and 100 ng/mL biotin on day 0. Various concentrations (10-50 µg/mL) of Aloe vera extract with no cytotoxic effect were applied to differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, Oil red O staining, intracellular trigliceride levels, and gene expressions of transcription factors and lipolysis-associated genes were examined in order to investigate the effect of Aloe vera extract on adipocyte differentiation.
RESULTS: Aloe vera treatment caused a continuous decrease in cell size and intracellular triglyceride accumulation. Despite the fact that GPDH activity, mRNA levels of transcription factors and lipolysis-associated genes decreased in mature adipocytes treated with Aloe vera extract.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Aloe vera may have a therapeutic effect in prevention and/or treatment of adipogenesis-related obesity.
Manuscript Language: English