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2025 Vol.38, Issue 3

Research Article

Immature Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Ethanol Extract Inhibits Adipogenesis through AMP-Activated Kinase in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes
Seon-A Yoon1
,
Hyejin Hyeon2
,
Ho Bong Hyun2
,
Sung Chun Kim1
,
Boram Go2
,
Soyeon Oh2
,
Ji-Gweon Park3
,
Young-min Ham4
1Senior Researcher, Biodiversity Research Institute, Clean Bio Business Division, Jeju Technopark, Jeju 63608, Korea
2Researcher, Biodiversity Research Institute, Clean Bio Business Division, Jeju Technopark, Jeju 63608, Korea
3Division Director, Biodiversity Research Institute, Clean Bio Business Division, Jeju Technopark, Jeju 63608, Korea
4Team Leader, Biodiversity Research Institute, Clean Bio Business Division, Jeju Technopark, Jeju 63608, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 June 2025. pp. 275-283
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Abstract

We previously reported the anti-obesity effects of immature persimmon ethanol extract by analyzing changes in body weight, visceral fat weight, blood biochemicals, and fat production-related gene expression levels in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model. Therefore, this study investigated whether the 50% ethanol extract of Diospyros kaki Thunb. regulated lipid metabolism by identifying its mechanism in 3T3-L1 cells. As a result, it did not influence cell viability or toxicity, and a significant decrease in lipid droplet accumulation was observed in a concentration-dependent manner during adipogenesis (adipogenic differentiation). Consistent with the animal studies, Diospyros kaki Thunb. extract (in a dose-dependent manner) suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, which induce adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In addition, it increased the levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. Finally, we confirmed that sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c is regulated by AMPK phosphorylation. These results indicated that immature persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) may serve as a natural agent for the prevention or treatment of obesity via the AMPK pathway.

Keywords
Adipogenesis
AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation
Diospyros kaki Thunb.
High-fat diet
Protein kinase
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Information
  • Publisher :The Plant Resources Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원식물학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Plant Resources
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원식물학회지
  • Volume : 38
  • No :3
  • Pages :275-283
  • Received Date : 2025-02-26
  • Revised Date : 2025-04-11
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7732/kjpr.2025.38.3.275
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