Anti-lipogenic and thermogenic potency of Padina tetrastromatica bioactives in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 cells and their efficacy based thermogenic food supplement to mitigate obesity

Padina tetrastromatica is underexploited and potentially sustainable brown algae, rich in anti-obesity molecules total lipids (pTL), fucoxanthin (pFx), polysaccharides and polyphenols. The comprehensive molecular mechanistic role of P.tetrastromatica (pFx and pTL) on metabolic potency to mitigate obesity is elusive. We studied the anti-obesity effect of pTL and pFx in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 cells. Based on the in vitro findings, a novel low glycemic index (GI) cereal (barley) and P.tetrastromatica based thermogenic food was formulated and its nutritional and antioxidative properties were evaluated. No potential toxicity was observed in the cells on pTL and pFx treatment. pTL and pFx significantly reduced triglyceride accumulation, rejuvenated mitochondrial membrane potential, down-regulated phosphorylated serine/threonine protein kinase (pAKT), phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated receptor kinase (pERK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma(PPAR-gamma), adipose-specific fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1C (SREBP-1C), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and Acyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) that play a key role in adipogenesis. Antioxidative proteins (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1-NQO-1), thermogenic genes (sirtuin 1-SIRT1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha-PGC1- alpha and uncoupling protein-1 UCP-1), mitochondrial-biogenesis (transcription factor A mitochondrial-TFAM), ss-oxidative enzymes (carnitine palmitoyl-transferase1- CPT1 and Acyl-CoA oxidase- ACO) were up-regulated. Proximate analysis and bioactive assessment of product justified the nutritional quality of the food and displayed low GI value. Functional food prepared was nutritious and its bioactives pTL and pFx proved to exert anti-adipogenic and thermogenic effects in 3T3-L1 cells. Hence, P.tetrastromatica and barley-based functional food can have potential applications in the management of obesity.

Automated summary

Padina tetrastromatica, a type of brown algae, contains anti-obesity molecules pTL and pFx, which have been found to reduce triglyceride accumulation and improve mitochondrial function. Based on these findings, a functional food made from P.tetrastromatica and barley was formulated, which showed anti-adipogenic and thermogenic effects in cells. The food also had low glycemic index and nutritional quality, making it potentially beneficial for managing obesity.