Shinorine and porphyra-334 isolated from laver () inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) such as shinorine and porphyra-334 from spp. are bioactive compounds with strong photoprotective and antioxidant properties. In this study, the anti-adipogenic effect of shinorine and porphyra-334 was examined in vitro utilizing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Shinorine and porphyra-334 were extracted from laver () 50% methanolic (MeOH) extract of and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopy. Both compounds had no cytotoxic effect in 3T3-L1 cells (< 200 μg/mL) and inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner (0.1 and 1.0 μM). Interestingly, both compounds had also significantly reduced the expression of adipogenic-related genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), adiponectin, and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells. The findings suggest that shinorine and porphyra-334 have the potential to inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.