Inhibitory effect of β-asarone, a component of Acorus calamus essential oil, on inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

Acorus calamus (Araceae) has been incorporated into traditional medicines and used in food supplements for hundreds of years. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of A. calamus essential oil (calamus oil) on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. The major anti-adipogenic component of calamus oil was purified and identified as β-asarone. β-Asarone significantly inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the protein and mRNA expression levels of C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ were decreased in 3T3-L1 cells treated with β-asarone during differentiation. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which is known to regulate the early phase of adipogenesis, was attenuated by β-asarone treatment. These results suggest that β-asarone exerts anti-adipogenic activity, in part by suppressing the expression of adipogenic transcription factors.