Reduction of Adipogenesis and Lipid Accumulation by Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) Extracts in 3T3L1 Adipocytes: An in vitro Study

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 745 - 752
• Main Authors: González‐Castejón, Marta, García‐Carrasco, Belén, Fernández‐Dacosta, Raquel, Dávalos, Alberto, Rodriguez‐Casado, Arantxa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England J. Wiley 01-05-2014; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 Cells; 3 T3-L1 cells; adipocytes; Adipocytes - drug effects; Adipocytes - metabolism; adipogenesis; Adipogenesis - drug effects; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Caffeic Acids - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Chlorogenic Acid - pharmacology; cytotoxicity; dandelion; differentiation; genes; high performance liquid chromatography; in vitro studies; leaves; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; lipogenesis; long noncoding RNAs; Mice; microarray technology; Obesity; phytochemicals; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Taraxacum - chemistry; Taraxacum officinale; Triglycerides - metabolism; adipogenesis; differentiation; long noncoding RNAs; phytochemicals; obesity; 3 T3-L1 cells; dandelion
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5059

In this in vitro study, we have investigated the ability of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) to inhibit adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. HPLC analysis of the three plant extracts used in this study—leaf and root extracts and a commercial root powder—identified caffeic and chlorogenic acids as the main phenolic constituents. Oil Red O staining and triglyceride levels analysis showed decreased lipid and triglyceride accumulation, respectively. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the MTT assay showing non‐toxic effect among the concentrations tested. DNA microarray analysis showed that the extracts regulated the expression of a number of genes and long non‐coding RNAs that play a major role in the control of adipogenesis. Taken together, our results indicate that the dandelion extracts used in this study may play a significant role during adipogenesis and lipid metabolism, and thus, supporting their therapeutic interest as potential candidates for the treatment of obesity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.