9-oxo-10(E),12(E)-Octadecadienoic acid derived from tomato is a potent PPAR α agonist to decrease triglyceride...

Area of Science:

• Nutritional biochemistry
• Molecular biology
• Metabolic research

Background:

• Tomatoes are globally significant crops with compounds impacting lipid metabolism.
• The precise molecular mechanisms of tomato's lipid-modulating effects remain largely unknown.
• Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a key target for managing lipid metabolism disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific compounds in tomatoes that activate PPARα.
• To elucidate the role of these compounds in regulating lipid metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Screening tomato extract fractions using a PPARα luciferase reporter assay.
• Identifying active compounds via LC/MS and NMR analyses.
• Assessing the effects of active fractions on PPARα target gene expression and triglyceride accumulation in mouse primary hepatocytes.

Main Results:

• A specific tomato fraction (RF57) significantly enhanced PPARα reporter activity.
• The active compound in RF57 was identified as 9-oxo-10(E),12(E)-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxo-ODA).
• RF57 increased PPARα target gene expression related to fatty acid oxidation and reduced triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes.

Conclusions:

• Tomatoes contain 9-oxo-ODA, a PPARα activator with potential therapeutic value.
• This compound may help ameliorate lipid metabolism abnormalities.
• Findings highlight the role of 9-oxo-ODA in tomato's beneficial effects on lipid health.