Aged citrus peel (chenpi) extract reduces lipogenesis in differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes

• Main Authors: Jingjing Guo, Yong Cao, Chi-Tang Ho, Shengkan Jin, Qingrong Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-07-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Adipogenesis; AMPK; Chenpi; 5-Demethylated polymethoxyflavones; Lipogenesis; Obesity
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464617302396

Aged citrus peel (chenpi) is made from the dry peel of the fruit of Citrus reticulate Blanco after aging process. It has long been used as a food ingredient, a dietary supplement, and for medicinal purpose. Compared to fresh citrus peel extract, chenpi extract contains more 5-demethylated polymethoxyflavones (5-OH PMFs). To investigate a potential direct role of chenpi extract on adipose tissue, we examined the effect of chenpi extract on differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. We showed that two types of chenpi extract varying in 5-OH PMF contents consistently reduces intracellular lipid accumulation without significantly affecting cell viability and proliferation. The reduction in lipid accumulation is correlated with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and down-regulation of adipogenic transcription factors as well as lipogenic genes. The results indicate that chenpi extract may directly affect lipogenesis in adipose tissue and the content of 5-OH PMFs likely affects the anti-lipogenic activity of chenpi extract.