The in vitro and in vivo effects of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extract on adipogenesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of yerba mate extract and its principal bioactive compounds on adipogenesis. The anti-adipogenic effects of yerba mate, chlorogenic acid, quercetin and rutin were evaluated in 3T3-L1 cells using a PCR array. The results obtained in vitro were validated in vivo in a high-fat diet-induced model of obesity. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that yerba mate extract down-regulated the expression of genes that regulate adipogenesis, such as Creb-1 and C/EBP alpha, and the extract up-regulated the expression of genes related to the inhibition of adipogenesis, including Dlk1, Gata2, Gata3, Klf2, Lrp5, Ppar gamma 2, Sfrp1, Tcf7l2, Wnt10b, and Wnt3a. In summary, it was demonstrated that yerba mate and its bioactive compounds regulate the expression of genes related to in vitro adipogenesis. Furthermore, yerba mate might regulate adipogenesis through the Wnt pathway. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.