SH21B, an anti-obesity herbal composition, inhibits fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high fat diet-induced obese mice through the modulation of the adipogenesis pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevance: SH21B is an anti-obesity composition composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner. It has been used for the treatment of obesity in traditional medical clinics in Korea, but its anti-obesity effects and mechanism of action have not been studied until now. Aim of the study: This study was conducted to confirm the anti-obesity effects of SH21B and to elucidate its mechanism of action. Materials and methods: 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high fat diet-induced obese mice were treated with SH21B, and its effect on gene expression was analyzed using microarray technology, real-time PCR and western blotting experiments. Results: SH21B significantly inhibited fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and reduced adipose tissue and serum triglyceride levels in high fat diet-induced obese mice. Microarray analyses showed that SH21B affected more genes in the adipogenesis pathway than any other pathway studied. SH21B significantly decreased the expression of major transcription factors of the adipogenesis pathway and resulted in the down-regulation of lipid metabolizing enzymes involved in the transport, uptake and synthesis of lipids. Conclusions: SH21B inhibits fat accumulation by down-regulating the expression of genes involved in the adipogenesis pathway. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Ail rights reserved.