Anti-obesity effects of Asian dayflower, Commelina communis, in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity and in 3T3-L1 cells

Asian dayflower, Commelina communis tea (CCT), decreased the body weight gain and reduced the mass of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in the high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The serum glucose and triacylglycerol levels were lowered in CCT-administered HFD-fed mice. Moreover, CCT slightly improved their insulin sensitivity. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of anti-adipogenic effect of C. communis, we focused on the flavonoids that have various physiological functions. The major flavonoids from C. communis were purified by HPLC, and their structures determined by NMR and mass spectrometry. Glucoluteolin (luteolin-7-O-glucoside), a flavonoid of C. communis, reduced the intracellular triacylglycerol level in 3T3-L1 cells. The transcription level of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and glucose uptake were decreased by glucoluteolin. These results indicate that CCT reduced the body weight gain and slightly improved the insulin sensitivity in HFD-fed mice. Glucoluteolin repressed the accumulation of intracellular lipids by suppressing GLUT4-mediated glucose uptake into adipocytes.