Anthocyanins from Cornus kousa ethanolic extract attenuate obesity in association with anti-angiogenic activities in 3T3-L1 cells by down-regulating adipogeneses and lipogenesis

Cornus kousa the Korean dogwood has been traditionally used in East Asia as therapeutic traditional medicine however biological activities of Cornus kousa have not been investigated previously. The aim of the present study was to evaluate anti-obesity activities coupled with anti-angiogenic activities of anthocyanins rich fraction of ethanolic leaf extract of Cornus kousa (ELECk) in HUVECs and 3T3- L1 cells. Dried plants leaves were extracted with 70% ethanol and anthocyanin fraction (AnT Fr) was obtained by eluting the ethanolic extract through non-polar macroporous resin and further purification by HPLC. Antiangiogenic activities were determined by antiproliferative effect of AnT Fr on HUVECs. In the presence of various concentrations of AnT Fr, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiate. Lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes were quantified by Oil-Red O staining. AnT Fr significantly suppressed angiogenesis by inhibiting proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs via downregulating VEGRF 2, PI3K, β‐catenin, NF‐kB, and Akt1 in a dose dependent manner. AnT Fr inhibited lipid accumulation by down-regulating adipogenesis and lipogenesis promoting signaling proteins, PPARγ, CCAAT, C/EBPα, aP2, FAS, and LPL, however enhanced AMPK activation to p-AMPK in 3T3 cells quantified and expressed by western blotting. AnT Fr inhibit lipid accumulation by regulating adipogenesis and lipogenesis related genes and signaling proteins. The anti-obesity activities exerted by Cornus kousa are associated with antiangiogenic activities of anthocyanins rich fraction of Cornus kousa. Hence the presence of bioactive anthocyanins, Cornus kosa, is a good candidate for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulation for treating or controlling obesity.