In vitro anti-obesity effect of Aloe vera extract through transcription factors and lipolysis-associated genes

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.