Puerarin enhances adipocyte differentiation, adiponectin expression, and antioxidant response in 3T3-L1 cells

Puerarin, a major isoflavone glycoside from Kudzu root (Pueraria lobata), has been reported to exert antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects and thus have pharmacological actions in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the effects of puerarin on the changes of key gene expression associated with adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity and link to cellular antioxidant response pathways. Puerarin treatment significantly enhanced differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes accompanying increased lipid accumulation and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity. At a molecular level, puerarin upregulated mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and its target genes, an adipocyte-specific fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and GLUT4. Puerarin also caused a significant increase in mRNA level of adiponectin, an important insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine that is downregulated in insulin-resistant and diabetic states. In addition, treatment with puerarin was found to upregulate mRNA levels of G6PDH, glutathione reductase, and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that the hypoglycemic effects of puerarin can be attributed to the upregulation of PPARγ and its downstream target genes, GLUT4 and adiponectin expression, leading to increased glucose utilization. Puerarin may also be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation by increasing endogenous antioxidant responses.