University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Wels, Austria.
Institute of Medical Chemistry, Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 19;9(1):10492. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47060-4.
An increase in adipose tissue is caused by the increased size and number of adipocytes. Lipids accumulate in intracellular stores, known as lipid droplets (LDs). Recent studies suggest that parameters such as LD size, shape and dynamics are closely related to the development of obesity. Berberine (BBR), a natural plant alkaloid, has been demonstrated to possess anti-obesity effects. However, it remains unknown which cellular processes are affected by this compound or how effective herbal extracts containing BBR and other alkaloids actually are. For this study, we used extracts of Coptis chinensis, Mahonia aquifolium, Berberis vulgaris and Chelidonium majus containing BBR and other alkaloids and studied various processes related to adipocyte functionality. The presence of extracts resulted in reduced adipocyte differentiation, as well as neutral lipid content and rate of lipolysis. We observed that the intracellular fatty acid exchange was reduced in different LD size fractions upon treatment with BBR and Coptis chinensis. In addition, LD motility was decreased upon incubation with BBR, Coptis chinensis and Chelidonium majus extracts. Furthermore, Chelidonium majus was identified as a potent fatty acid uptake inhibitor. This is the first study that demonstrates the selected regulatory effects of herbal extracts on adipocyte function.
脂肪组织的增加是由于脂肪细胞的大小和数量增加引起的。脂质在称为脂滴 (LDs) 的细胞内储存中积累。最近的研究表明，LD 的大小、形状和动力学等参数与肥胖的发展密切相关。小檗碱 (BBR) 是一种天然植物生物碱，已被证明具有抗肥胖作用。然而，尚不清楚这种化合物影响哪些细胞过程，也不知道含有 BBR 和其他生物碱的草药提取物实际上有多么有效。在这项研究中，我们使用了含有 BBR 和其他生物碱的黄连、北美黄连、小檗和白屈菜提取物来研究与脂肪细胞功能相关的各种过程。提取物的存在导致脂肪细胞分化减少、中性脂质含量和脂肪分解率降低。我们观察到，用 BBR 和黄连处理后，不同 LD 大小分数的细胞内脂肪酸交换减少。此外，用 BBR、黄连和白屈菜提取物孵育后，LD 运动减少。此外，白屈菜被鉴定为一种有效的脂肪酸摄取抑制剂。这是第一项证明草药提取物对脂肪细胞功能的选择性调节作用的研究。
