Artemisiaextracts activate PPAR[gamma], promote adipogenesis, and enhance insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue of obese mice

Objective Studies have shown that the inability of adipose tissue to properly expand during the obese state or respond to insulin can lead to metabolic dysfunction.Artemisiais a diverse group of plants that has a history of medicinal use. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of ethanolic extracts ofArtemisia scoparia(SCO) andArtemisia santolinifolia(SAN) to modulate adipocyte development in cultured adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT) functionin vivousing a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. Method Adipogenesis was assessed using Oil Red O staining and immunoblotting. A nuclear receptor specificity assay was used to examine the specificity of SCO- and SAN-induced PPARγ activation. C57BL/6J mice, fed a high-fat diet, were gavaged with saline, SCO, or SAN for 2 wk. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was examined using insulin tolerance tests. WAT depots were assessed via immunoblotting for markers of insulin action and adipokine production. Results We established that SCO and SAN were highly specific activators of PPARγ and did not activate other nuclear receptors. After a 1-wk daily gavage, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had lower insulin-induced glucose disposal rates than control mice. At the end of the 2-wk treatment period, SCO- and SAN-treated mice had enhanced insulin-responsive Akt serine-473 phosphorylation and significantly decreased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in visceral WAT compared with control mice; these differences were depot specific. Moreover, plasma adiponectin levels were increased following SCO treatment. Conclusion Overall, these studies demonstrate that extracts from twoArtemisiaspecies can have metabolically favorable effects on adipocytes and WAT.