Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes

Leucaena leucocephala had been traditionally used to treat diabetes. The present study was designed to evaluate in vitro “insulin-like” activities of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) deWit. aqueous fruit extract on lipid and glucose metabolisms. The ability of the extract to stimulate adipogenesis, inhi...

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Main Authors: Umah Rani Kuppusamy, Bavani Arumugam, Nooriza Azaman, Chai Jen Wai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/737263
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author Umah Rani Kuppusamy
Bavani Arumugam
Nooriza Azaman
Chai Jen Wai
author_facet Umah Rani Kuppusamy
Bavani Arumugam
Nooriza Azaman
Chai Jen Wai
author_sort Umah Rani Kuppusamy
collection DOAJ
description Leucaena leucocephala had been traditionally used to treat diabetes. The present study was designed to evaluate in vitro “insulin-like” activities of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) deWit. aqueous fruit extract on lipid and glucose metabolisms. The ability of the extract to stimulate adipogenesis, inhibit lipolysis, and activate radio-labeled glucose uptake was assessed using primary rat adipocytes. Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR was performed to investigate effects of the extract on expression levels of genes (protein kinases B, AKT; glucose transporter 4, GLUT4; hormone sensitive lipase, HSL; phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, PI3KA; sterol regulatory element binding factor 1, Srebp1) involved in insulin-induced signaling pathways. L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract stimulated moderate adipogenesis and glucose uptake into adipocytes when compared to insulin. Generally, the extract exerted a considerable level of lipolytic effect at lower concentration but decreased gradually at higher concentration. The findings concurred with RT-PCR analysis. The expressions of GLUT4 and HSL genes were upregulated by twofold and onefold, respectively, whereas AKT, PI3KA, and Srebp1 genes were downregulated. The L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract may be potentially used as an adjuvant in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management due to its enhanced glucose uptake and balanced adipogenesis and lipolysis properties.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2356-6140
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language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-4ac074accfdb459ea1796ec132b483ae2025-08-20T03:36:35ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/737263737263Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat AdipocytesUmah Rani Kuppusamy0Bavani Arumugam1Nooriza Azaman2Chai Jen Wai3Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Segi University, Selangor 47810, MalaysiaLeucaena leucocephala had been traditionally used to treat diabetes. The present study was designed to evaluate in vitro “insulin-like” activities of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) deWit. aqueous fruit extract on lipid and glucose metabolisms. The ability of the extract to stimulate adipogenesis, inhibit lipolysis, and activate radio-labeled glucose uptake was assessed using primary rat adipocytes. Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR was performed to investigate effects of the extract on expression levels of genes (protein kinases B, AKT; glucose transporter 4, GLUT4; hormone sensitive lipase, HSL; phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, PI3KA; sterol regulatory element binding factor 1, Srebp1) involved in insulin-induced signaling pathways. L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract stimulated moderate adipogenesis and glucose uptake into adipocytes when compared to insulin. Generally, the extract exerted a considerable level of lipolytic effect at lower concentration but decreased gradually at higher concentration. The findings concurred with RT-PCR analysis. The expressions of GLUT4 and HSL genes were upregulated by twofold and onefold, respectively, whereas AKT, PI3KA, and Srebp1 genes were downregulated. The L. leucocephala aqueous fruit extract may be potentially used as an adjuvant in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management due to its enhanced glucose uptake and balanced adipogenesis and lipolysis properties.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/737263
spellingShingle Umah Rani Kuppusamy
Bavani Arumugam
Nooriza Azaman
Chai Jen Wai
Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
The Scientific World Journal
title Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
title_full Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
title_fullStr Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
title_full_unstemmed Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
title_short Leucaena leucocephala Fruit Aqueous Extract Stimulates Adipogenesis, Lipolysis, and Glucose Uptake in Primary Rat Adipocytes
title_sort leucaena leucocephala fruit aqueous extract stimulates adipogenesis lipolysis and glucose uptake in primary rat adipocytes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/737263
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AT noorizaazaman leucaenaleucocephalafruitaqueousextractstimulatesadipogenesislipolysisandglucoseuptakeinprimaryratadipocytes
AT chaijenwai leucaenaleucocephalafruitaqueousextractstimulatesadipogenesislipolysisandglucoseuptakeinprimaryratadipocytes