Triphala, Regulates Adipogenesis through Modulation of Expression of Adipogenic Genes in 3T3-L1 Cell Line

BACKGROUND: Triphala, an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation, is used for the treatment of various diseases including obesity. OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to evaluate the anti-adipogenic potential of aqueous extract of Triphala (TP(aq)) using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line model. METHODS: The effect of aqueous extract of Triphala (TP(aq)) was tested on the viability of 3T3- L1 cells by MTT assay. The cells were treated with a cocktail of dexamethasone (DEX), isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and insulin to induce adipogenesis. The cells were treated either with the induction cocktail or with the cocktail containing different concentrations (1, 10 and100 μg/ml) of TP(aq). Intracellular lipid content was analyzed using Oil O Red stain and was quantified after extracting with isopropanol at 500 nm wavelength. The expression of early (PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α) and late (GLUT4 and FAS) phase adipogenic genes was studied by real time PCR. RESULTS: TP(aq) did not affect the viability of 3T3-L1 cell line. Interestingly, TP(aq) induced a concentration dependant decrease in the intracellular lipid content and expression of both early and late phase adipogenic genes. This decrease was statistically significant compared to cells treated with only induction cocktail. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that Triphala regulated lipid accumulation by down regulating expression of adipogenic genes, resulting into prevention of adipogenesis. SUMMARY: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an ayurvedic polyherbal drug Triphala on adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 cell line. The results suggested that Triphala regulated lipid accumulation by downregulating expression of adipogenic genes, resulting into the prevention of adipogenesis. Abbreviations used: TP(aq): Aqueous extract of Triphala; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium; FBS: Fetal Bovine Serum; IBMX: Isobutyl methylxanthine; DMX: Dexamethasone; MTT: [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay; PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; C/EBP:Enhancer binding protein α, FAS:Fatty acid synthase; Glut-4: Glucose phosphate transporter 4.