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The natural compound, formononetin, extracted from Astragalus membranaceus increases adipocyte thermogenesis by

Tao Nie1,2,3, Shiting Zhao2,3, Liufeng Mao2,3

  • 1Central Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

British Journal of Pharmacology
|January 10, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Formononetin, derived from the Chinese herb A. membranaceus, promotes adipocyte thermogenesis and combats obesity. This compound, a PPARγ agonist, increases energy expenditure and reduces weight gain in obese mice.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic disease research
  • Pharmacology
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

  • Obesity management strategies focus on increasing energy expenditure via adipocyte thermogenesis.
  • Effective and safe agents promoting adipocyte thermogenesis are limited.
  • Screening of traditional Chinese herbal medicines is a viable approach to identify novel agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To screen traditional Chinese herbal medicines for their ability to induce adipocyte thermogenesis.
  • To investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus) extracts and its component formononetin on adipocyte thermogenesis.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of formononetin in a diet-induced obesity mouse model.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression via qPCR in primary mouse adipocytes.
  • Administered formononetin to diet-induced obese mice and measured weight gain, glucose tolerance, and whole-body oxygen consumption.
  • Utilized hematoxylin and eosin staining for adipose tissue analysis.
  • Investigated formononetin's interaction with PPARγ.

Main Results:

  • A. membranaceus extracts significantly increased UCP1 expression in adipocytes.
  • Formononetin was identified as a key component responsible for this effect.
  • Formononetin treatment in obese mice led to reduced weight gain and increased energy expenditure.
  • Formononetin was found to bind directly to PPARγ.

Conclusions:

  • A. membranaceus and its constituent formononetin show potential for reducing obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
  • Formononetin regulates adipocyte thermogenesis through a non-classical PPARγ agonistic mechanism.
  • These findings support the development of formononetin as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

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