Anti-lipidaemic and anti-inflammatory effect of açai (Euterpe oleracea Martius) polyphenols on 3T3-L1 adipocytes

• Açai polyphenols reduced the lipids accumulation during adipocyte differentiation.
• Açai polyphenols downregulated PPARγ2 and key adipogenic transcription factors.
• Açai polyphenols decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Açai polyphenols reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species.
• Açai polyphenols decreased cellular adhesion molecules.

The anti-lipidaemic and anti-inflammatory effects of açai polyphenols in 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes were investigated. Pre-adipocytes were differentiated with and without açai-polyphenols at concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL. Results showed that açai polyphenols reduce the accumulation of intracellular lipids in differentiated adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated PPARγ2. The gene-expression of adipogenic transcription factors C/ebpα, C/ebpβ, Klf5 and Srebp1c was decreased. This was accompanied by a reduction of adipogenic genes, including aP2, LPL, FATP1 and FAS, leptin and total PAI and an increase of adiponectin. Additionally, açai polyphenols protected cells against the production of ROS and decreased the expression of mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines when 3T3-L1 cells were challenged with TNF-α. Thus, these results indicate that açai polyphenols may be useful in the prevention of adipogenesis, oxidative stress and inflammation.