Xanthones from Mangosteen Prevent Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Primary Cultures of Human Adipocytes

The xanthones, alpha- and gamma-mangostin (MG), are major bioactive compounds found in mangosteen and are reported to have antiinflammatory properties in several murine models. Given the association between obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation, and insulin resistance, we examined the effects of alpha- and gamma-MG on markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in primary cultures of newly differentiated human adipocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (ILPS). alpha- and gamma-MG decreased the induction by LPS of inflammatory genes, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interfeukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and Toll-like receptor-2. Moreover, alpha- and gamma-MG attenuated LPS activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) c-jun NH2-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase, and l a- and gamma-MG also attenuated LPS activation of c-Jun and activator protein (AP)-1 activity. gamma-MG was more effective than alpha-MG on an equimolar basis. Furthermore, gamma-MG but not alpha-MG attenuated LPS-mediated I kappa B-alpha degradation and nuclear factor-kappa 8 (NF-kappa B) activity. In addition, gamma-MG prevented the suppression by LIDS of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and PPAR-gamma and adiponectin gene expression. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MG attenuates LPS-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance inhuman adipocytes, possibly by inhibiting the activation of MAPK, NF-kappa B, and AP-1. J. Nutr. 139:1185-1191, 2009.