Effect of Flavonoids on the Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

• Published in: Food Science and Technology Research Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 154 - 160
• Main Authors: IWASHITA, Keiko, YAMAKI, Kohji, TSUSHIDA, Tojiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tsukuba Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology 2001; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: 3T3-L1 adipocyte; differentiation; flavonoid; glycerol-3-phospate dehydrogenase; lipid accumulation
• ISSN: 1344-6606; 1881-3984
• DOI: 10.3136/fstr.7.154

The effect of dietary flavonoids (flavone, isoflavone, flavanone, chalcone, flavonol, and flavonol derivatives) on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes was investigated. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, which is a hallmark of 3T3-L1 differentiation, was measured. The GPDH activity in the cells treated with quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin was significantly lower than that in the control cells. A low lipid accumulation in cells stained with Oil-Red O was observed following treatment of these flavonols. The anti-differentiation action of quercetin was more potent than that of its derivatives. Quercetin directly inhibited the activity of GPDH extracted from mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The inhibitory action of quercetin on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells may involve the direct inhibition of GPDH, which is a key enzyme lipid synthesis.