Downregulation of Hepatic De Novo Lipogenesis and Adipogenesis in Adipocytes by Bark Extract

Korean red pine () bark extract, PineXol (PX), was investigated for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects in vitro. It was hypothesized that PX treatment (25-150 μg/ml) would reduce the lipid synthesis in HepG2 hepatocytes as well as lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Hepatocytes' intracellular triglycerides and cholesterol were decreased in the PX 150 μg/ml treatment group compared with the control ( < 0.05). Consequently, de novo lipogenic proteins (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1) were significantly decreased in hepatocytes by PX 150 μg/ml treatment compared with the control ( < 0.05). In differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the lipid accumulation was significantly attenuated by all PX treatments ( < 0.01). Regulators of adipogenesis, including CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins alpha, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and perilipin, were decreased in PX 100 μg/ml treatment compared with the control ( < 0.05). In conclusion, PX might have anti-obesity effects by blocking hepatic lipogenesis and by inhibiting adipogenesis in adipocytes.