Screening for Bioactive Metabolites in Plant Extracts Modulating Glucose Uptake and Fat Accumulation. (28th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El-Houri, Rime B.; Kotowska, Dorota; Olsen, Louise C. B.; Bhattacharya, Sumangala; Christensen, Lars P.; Grevsen, Kai; Oksbjerg, Niels; Færgeman, Nils; Kristiansen, Karsten; Christensen, Kathrine B.
• Other Names: Thounaojam Menaka C. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-28
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/156398
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Dichloromethane and methanol extracts of seven different food and medicinal plants were tested in a screening platform for identification of extracts with potential bioactivity related to insulin-dependent glucose uptake and fat accumulation. The screening platform included a series of in vitro bioassays, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ -mediated transactivation, adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cell cultures, and glucose uptake in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary porcine myotubes, as well as one in vivo bioassay, fat accumulation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . We found that dichloromethane extracts of aerial parts of golden root ( Rhodiola rosea ) and common elder ( Sambucus nigra ) as well as the dichloromethane extracts of thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) and carrot ( Daucus carota ) were able to stimulate insulin-dependent glucose uptake in both adipocytes and myotubes while weekly activating PPAR γ without promoting adipocyte differentiation. In addition, these extracts were able to decrease fat accumulation in C. elegans . Methanol extracts of summer savory ( Satureja hortensis ), common elder, and broccoli ( Brassica oleracea ) enhanced glucose uptake in myotubes but were not able to activate PPAR γ, indicating a PPAR γ -independent effect on glucose uptake.