Pomegranate polyphenols and urolithin A inhibit α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, lipase, triglyceride accumulation and adipogenesis related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocyte-like cells

Publication date: 28 June 2018
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 220
Author(s): Francisco Les, José Miguel Arbonés-Mainar, Marta Sofía Valero, Víctor López
Ethnopharmacological relevancePomegranate fruit is considered an antidiabetic medicine in certain systems of traditional medicine. In addition, pomegranate polyphenols are known as powerful antioxidants with beneficial effects such as the reduction of oxidative / inflammatory stress and the increase of protective signalling such as antioxidant enzymes, neurotrophic factors and cytoprotective proteins.Aim of the studyThis work evaluates the effects of pomegranate juice, its main polyphenols known as ellagic acid and punicalagin, as well as its main metabolite urolithin A, on physiological and pharmacological targets of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.Materials and methodsFor this purpose, enzyme inhibition bioassays of lipase, α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 were carried out in cell-free systems. Similarly, adipocytes derived from 3T3-L1 cells were employed to study the effects of ellagic acid, punicalagin and urolithin A on adipocyte differentiation and triglyceride (TG) accumulation.ResultsPomegranate juice, ellagic acid, punicalagin and urolithin A were able to inhibit lipase, α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4. Furthermore, all tested compounds but significantly the metabolite urolithin A displayed anti-adipogenic properties in a dose-dependent manner as they significantly reduced TG accumulation and gene expression related to adipocyte formation such as adiponectin, PPARγ, GLUT4, and FABP4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.ConclusionThese results may explain from a molecular perspective the beneficial effects and traditional use of pomegranate in the prevention of metabolic-associated disorders such as obesity, diabetes and related complications.

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