Evaluation of anti-adipogenic activity of Vacha rhizome (Acorus Calamus Linn.) in 3T3-L1 cell line

Abstract

Obesity increases the risk of physical and mental health problems like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer, and depression. Acorus calamus Linn rhizome is ones uch medication used in Ayurveda and other traditional systems to treat obesity. Purpose of this study is to evaluate anti-adipogenic activity of both an ethanolic, aqueous extract of A. calamus Linn. rhizome in 3T3-L1 mouse derived cell line. The ethanolic and aqueous extract of this A. calamus Linn. rhizome was prepared with the help of Soxhlet apparatus. Cytotoxicity has been evaluated with the help of MTT assay. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid deposition in the cell line treated with extract was conducted with O Red oil staining with the help of microscope and Image J software, respectively. Anti-adipogenic activity was evaluated through differentiation and gene expression analysis (RTPCR) for PPARγ and GLUT4 mRNA expression. Viability assay revealed that the 50 µg/mL showed cell proliferation without any cellular toxicity. The 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with ethanolic extract of A. calamus Linn. rhizome exhibited significant decrease in the lipid accumulation as evidenced by oil red o staining and subsequent quantification with Image J software. Down regulation of PPARγ and up regulation of GLUT4 genes via RT-PCR in treated group showed the anti-adipogenic activity. This demonstrates the ethanolic extract of AC is effective in reducing adipogenesis i.e., it has antiadipogenic activity. An ethanolic extract of A. calamus Linn. thus establishes it as a promising herb for the treatment of obesity and associated disorders.