Nutr Res Pract.  2021 Jun;15(3):279-293. 10.4162/nrp.2021.15.3.279.

The protective effects of steamed ginger on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and adiposity in diet-induced obese mice

• Kim B
• Kim HJ
• Cha YS

• KMID: 2516068
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2021.15.3.279

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
The steamed ginger has been shown to have antioxidative effects and a protective effect against obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of steamed ginger (SGE) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model.
MATERIALS/METHODS
The protective effects of SGE on adipogenesis were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by measuring lipid accumulations and genes involved in adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 10% fat w/w), a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat w/w), and HFD supplemented with either 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of SGE for 12 weeks. Serum chemistry was measured, and the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was determined in the adipose tissue. Histological analysis and micro-computed tomography were performed to identify lipid accumulations in epididymal fat pads.
RESULTS
In 3T3-L1 cells, SGE significantly decreased lipid accumulation, with concomitant decreases in the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. SGE significantly attenuated the increase in body, liver, and epididymal adipose tissue weights by HFD. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in SGE fed groups compared to HFD. In adipose tissue, SGE significantly decreased adipocyte size than that of HFD and altered adipogenesis-related genes.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, steamed ginger exerted anti-obesity effects by regulating genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cell and epididymal adipose tissue of DIO mice.

Keyword

Ginger; obesity; adipogenesis; 3T3-L1 cells; obese mice

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of SGE on (A) cell viability (B) Triglyceride contents (C) Oil-Red O staining and (D) GPDH activity in 3T3-L1 cells. Cells were treated with different concentrations of SGE. Quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction analysis was conducted to measure mRNA abundance. Data are expressed as relative expression to GAPDH control. Bars with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Values are means ± SEM; n = 6.SGE, ethanolic extract of steamed ginger; GPDH, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effects of SGE during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Cells were treated with 1 or 5 μg/mL of SGE during differentiation. Quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction analysis was conducted to measure mRNA abundance. Data are expressed as relative expression to GAPDH control. Bars with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Values are means ± SEM; n = 6.SGE, ethanolic extract of steamed ginger; PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; C/EBPα, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha; aP2, adipocyte protein 2; GLUT4, glucose transporter 4; FAS, fatty acid synthase; ACC, acetyl CoA carboxylase; ApN, adiponectin; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

• 

  Fig. 3 Epididymal adipose tissue in SGE supplemented diet-induced obesity mice for 12 weeks. (A) Hematoxylin and eosin stained adipose tissue (B) Adipocyte number (C) The representative images of micro-CT (D) The fat volume of mice using in vivo micro-CT image analysis. Bars with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Values are means ± SEM; n = 10.SGE, ethanolic extract of steamed ginger; ND, normal diet; HFD, high-fat diet; SGD4, HFD with 40 mg/kg of SGE; SGD8, HFD with 80 mg/kg of SGE; CT, computed tomography.

• 

  Fig. 4 Effect of SGE in the epididymal adipose tissue of mice. mRNA expression of gene involved in (A) adipogenesis and (B) lipid metabolism. Bars with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Values are means ± SEM; n = 10.SGE, ethanolic extract of steamed ginger; ND, normal diet; HFD, high-fat diet, SGD4, HFD with 40 mg/kg of SGE; SGD8, HFD with 80 mg/kg of SGE; PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ; C/EBPα, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteinα; aP2, adipocyte protein 2; GLUT4, glucose transporter type 4; ApN, adiponectin; SREBP1c, sterol regulatory element-binding protein1c; FAS, fatty acid synthase; ACC, acetyl-coA carboxylase; ATGL, adipose triglyceride lipase; HSL, hormone-sensitive lipase.

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