1. Academic Validation
  2. Naringenin chalcone improves adipocyte functions by enhancing adiponectin production

Naringenin chalcone improves adipocyte functions by enhancing adiponectin production

  • Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2010 Jul 29;323(2):208-14. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.03.020.
Taro Horiba 1 Ikuko Nishimura Yuji Nakai Keiko Abe Ryuichiro Sato
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Research and Development Division, Kikkoman Corporation, 399 Noda, Noda, Chiba 278-0037, Japan. thoriba@mail.kikkoman.co.jp
Abstract

Naringenin chalcone is a flavonoid contained in tomato peel. In this study, we investigated its effects on adipocyte functions related to metabolic processes, including adipocytokine production. Naringenin chalcone promoted the gene expression (8.0-fold, p<0.001) and protein secretion (2.2-fold, p<0.001) of Adiponectin from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Reporter gene assays revealed that naringenin enhanced the activity of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor gamma. DNA microarray experiments and Gene Ontology analysis revealed that naringenin chalcone also up-regulated the genes associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism, reflecting its insulin-sensitizing effects. Conversely, genes in categories such as those for cell adhesion were down-regulated. The expression of one Adiponectin Receptor, AdipoR2, was also increased (1.8-fold, p<0.01), suggesting that naringenin chalcone could activate the Adiponectin pathway through the elevation of both the ligand and its receptor. These results indicate that naringenin chalcone is a potent tomato flavonoid that improves adipocyte metabolic functions and exerts insulin-sensitizing effects by activating an adiponectin-related pathway.

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