Metabolite analysis and anti-obesity effects of celery seed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Celery seeds were fractioned successively by organic solvents, and fractions were screened for their antioxidant properties. Metabolites of high antioxidative fractions were analyzed, and then anti-obesity properties and mechanisms of selected fractions were evaluated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Celery seed ethanol extract (CSE) and celery seed ethyl acetate fraction (CSEA) possessed higher in vitro antioxidant properties, including radical scavenging and total phenolic content, than that of hexane, butanol, and water fractions. Total of 43 and 19 metabolites were identified from CSE and CSEA, respectively, by gas chromatography-mass selective detector. Isoferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were only found in CSEA. CSEA possessed higher anti-adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells than CSE by decreasing adipogenic hormones, including leptin and adiponectin. Expression levels of adipocyte-related transcription factors and genes such as C/EBPα, PPARγ, aP2, and FAS decreased to comparable levels of control. CSEA could be used as a natural ingredient with antioxidant and anti-obesity functionality.