Artemisia Extracts Activate PPARγ, Promote Adipogenesis, and Enhance Insulin Sensitivity in Adipose Tissue of Obese Mice

Overview

Journal Nutrition

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2014 Jul 3

PMID 24985103

Citations 15

Authors

Allison J Richard

Thomas P Burris

David Sanchez-Infantes

Yongjun Wang

David M Ribnicky

Jacqueline M Stephens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Studies have shown that the inability of adipose tissue to properly expand during the obese state or respond to insulin can lead to metabolic dysfunction. Artemisia is a diverse group of plants that has a history of medicinal use. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of ethanolic extracts of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) and Artemisia santolinifolia (SAN) to modulate adipocyte development in cultured adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT) function in vivo using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.

Method: Adipogenesis was assessed using Oil Red O staining and immunoblotting. A nuclear receptor specificity assay was used to examine the specificity of SCO- and SAN-induced PPARγ activation. C57BL/6J mice, fed a high-fat diet, were gavaged with saline, SCO, or SAN for 2 wk. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was examined using insulin tolerance tests. WAT depots were assessed via immunoblotting for markers of insulin action and adipokine production.

Results: We established that SCO and SAN were highly specific activators of PPARγ and did not activate other nuclear receptors. After a 1-wk daily gavage, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had lower insulin-induced glucose disposal rates than control mice. At the end of the 2-wk treatment period, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had enhanced insulin-responsive Akt serine-473 phosphorylation and significantly decreased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in visceral WAT compared with control mice; these differences were depot specific. Moreover, plasma adiponectin levels were increased following SCO treatment.

Conclusion: Overall, these studies demonstrate that extracts from two Artemisia species can have metabolically favorable effects on adipocytes and WAT.

Citing Articles

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L. Extracts Improved Insulin Resistance via Changing Adiponectin, Leptin and Resistin Production in HFD/STZ Diabetic Mice.

Ghanbari M, Lamuki M, Habibi E, Sadeghimahalli F J Pharmacopuncture. 2022; 25(2):130-137.

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and Metabolic Health: Untapped Potential of an Ancient Remedy for Modern Use.

Boudreau A, Richard A, Harvey I, Stephens J Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022; 12:727061.

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Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of L. improved insulin resistance via decreasing TNF-alpha, IL-6 and free fatty acids in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Ghanbari M, Sadeghimahalli F Avicenna J Phytomed. 2022; 12(1):54-66.

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Artemisia scoparia promotes adipogenesis in the absence of adipogenic effectors.

Harvey I, Stephens J Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021; 29(8):1309-1319.

PMID: 34227239 PMC: 8883808. DOI: 10.1002/oby.23199.

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