Bioactive fraction from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves

Background: Obesity has become a risk factor for metabolic diseases. One of the cellular characteristics of obesity is the occurrence of adipose cells hyperplasia. Lagerstroemia speciosa is a plant which has been used for the treatment of diabetes. Furthermore, some studies also indicated that L. speciosa possesses antiobesity activity. Its antiobesity activity was examined in the present study through adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis pathways. Aim: DLBS3733, a bioactive fraction of L. speciosa, was explored for its potential benefits to alter obesity through adipogenesis and lipogenesis inhibition and lipolysis induction activity. Materials and methods: This study was performed using 3T3-L1 cells. mRNA level and protein expressions related to adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis pathways were assayed in this study. Results: Antiadipogenic effects of DLBS3733 (15 [micro]g/mL) were found to be mediated by a significant downregulation of mRNA level of multicomponents involved in adipogenesis which include C/EBP[alpha] (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha) and PPAR-[gamma] (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) by 75% and 80.1% (p