Mulberry anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside, increase the quantity of mitochondria during brown adipogenesis

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) and cyanidin 3-rutinoside (C3R), two anthocyanin compounds isolated from mulberry fruit, have beneficial effects in regards to reducing obesity. Their molecular targets have yet to be elucidated, however. Improving the function or increasing the quantity of mitochondria in brown adipose tissue (BAT) can promote the metabolism of carbohydrates and fat. This study was designed to investigate the mitochondrial biogenesis regulated by C3G and C3R during brown adipogenesis. The BAT-cMyc cell was treated with C3G and C3R, both of which significantly increased the expression levels of fatty acid oxidation-related genes such as PGC1α, PRDM16, and CPT1α. C3G and C3R also significantly increased the expression of TFAM and NRF1/NRF2. Notably, C3G and C3R treatment greatly elevated the mitochondrial copy number and BAT specific gene-UCP1 expression through AKT and ERK signaling pathways. These results altogether suggest that C3G and C3R may ameliorate metabolic disease through activating BAT thermogenesis.