Inhibitory effect and transcriptional impact of berberine and evodiamine on human white preadipocyte differentiation

It has been reported that the botanical alkaloids, berberine and evodiamine inhibit mouse preadipocyte 3T3-L1 differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and transcriptional impact of berberine and evodiamine individually and in combination on human white preadipocyte (HWP) differentiation. We have shown that treatment with 8 µM berberine or 4 µM evodiamine resulted in a major inhibition of HWP differentiation accompanied by up-regulation of both GATA binding protein 2 and 3 (GATA-2 and GATA-3) mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that both compounds may have excellent potential as agents to prevent obesity.

Graphical abstractQuantification from Oil-Red-O stains shows that berberine and evodiamine inhibit HWP differentiation. HWP were cultured in Growth medium (GM), Differentiation medium and Nutrition medium with berberine (A) or evodiamine (B).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide