PURPOSE: Ascorbic acid has been reported to have an adipogenic effect on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, while evidence also suggests that ascorbic acid reduces body weight in humans. In this study, we tested the effects of ascorbic acid on adipogenesis and the balance of lipid accumulation in ovariectomized rats, in addition to long-term culture of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and ovariectomized rats were treated with ascorbic acid at various time points. In vitro adipogenesis was analyzed by Oil Red O staining, and in vivo body fat was measured by a body composition analyzer using nuclear magnetic resonance. RESULTS: When ascorbic acid was applied during an early time point in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and after bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) in rats, adipogenesis and fat mass gain significantly increased, respectively. However, lipid accumulation in well-differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed a significant reduction when ascorbic acid was applied after differentiation (10 days after induction). Also, oral ascorbic acid administration 4 weeks after OVX in rats significantly reduced both body weight and subcutaneous fat layer. In comparison to the results of ascorbic acid, which is a well-known cofactor for an enzyme of collagen synthesis, and the antioxidant ramalin, a potent antioxidant but not a cofactor, showed only a lipolytic effect in well-differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, not an adipogenic effect. CONCLUSION: Taking these results into account, we concluded that ascorbic acid has both an adipogenic effect as a cofactor of an enzymatic process and a lipolytic effect as an antioxidant.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/drug effects ; Adipocytes/metabolism ; Adipogenesis/drug effects ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid/pharmacology ; Body Composition/drug effects ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Female ; Fibroblasts/drug effects ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Lipolysis/drug effects ; Mice ; Ovariectomy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Lichens have been known to possess multiple biological activities, including anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hence, VCAM-1 is a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of the inflammatory disease. However, the effect of lobaric acid on VCAM-1 has not yet been investigated and characterized. For this study, we examined the effect of lobaric acid on the inhibition of VCAM-1 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated mouse vascular smooth muscle cells. Western blot and ELISA showed that the increased expression of VCAM-1 by TNF-alpha was significantly suppressed by the pre-treatment of lobaric acid (0.1-10 mug/ml) for 2 h. Lobaric acid abrogated TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity through preventing the degradation of IkappaB and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase. Lobaric acid also inhibited the expression of TNF-alpha receptor 1 (TNF-R1). Overall, our results suggest that lobaric acid inhibited VCAM-1 expression through the inhibition of p38, ERK, JNK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways, and downregulation of TNF-R1 expression. Therefore, it is implicated that lobaric acid may suppress inflammation by altering the physiology of the atherosclerotic lesion.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Down-Regulation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Inflammation ; Lichens ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; NF-kappa B* ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

A new chromone analogue (1) was isolated from an EtOAc-extract of Pleosporales sp. culture medium, together with five known chromones (2 – 6). The isolation workflow was guided by a Molecular Networking-based dereplication strategy. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated using NMR and MS spectroscopy, and the absolute configuration was established by the Mosher's method. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitirc oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compound 1 showed marginal inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 118.7 μM.

A new chromone analogue (1) was isolated from an EtOAc-extract of Pleosporales sp. culture medium, together with five known chromones (2 – 6). The isolation workflow was guided by a Molecular Networking-based dereplication strategy. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated using NMR and MS spectroscopy, and the absolute configuration was established by the Mosher's method. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitirc oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compound 1 showed marginal inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 118.7 μM.