Herbal Combination of Phyllostachys pubescens and Scutellaria baicalensis Inhibits Adipogenesis and Promotes Browning via AMPK Activation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

To investigate the anti-obesity effects and underlying mechanism of BS21, a combination of Phyllostachys pubescens leaves and Scutellaria baicalensis roots was used to investigate the effects of BS21 on adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The expression of adipocyte-specific genes was observed via Western blot, and the BS21 chemical profile was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). BS21 treatment inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced the expression of the adipogenic proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP-alpha), and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), as well as the lipogenic proteins sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty-acid synthase (FAS). BS21 enhanced protein levels of the beta-oxidation genes carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1) and phospho-acetyl-coA carboxylase (p-ACC). BS21 also induced protein expressions of the browning marker genes PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC1 alpha), and uncoupling protein (UCP) 1, and it induced the expression of the thermogenic gene UCP2. Furthermore, BS21 increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. UPLC analysis showed that BS21 contains active constituents such as chlorogenic acid, orientin, isoorientin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, tricin, wogonin, and chrysin. Our findings demonstrate that BS21 plays a modulatory role in adipocytes by reducing adipogenesis and lipogenesis, increasing fat oxidation, and inducing browning.