Affiliations: Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA, USA | Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Clifton A. Baile, 444 Edgar L.
Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
30602-2771, USA. Tel.: +1 706 542 2771; Fax: +1 706 542 7925; E-mail: cbaile@uga.edu
Abstract: Genistein (G), an isoflavone, and guggulsterone (GS), the active
substance in guggulipid, have been reported to possess therapeutic effects for
obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of combinations of G
plus GS on apoptosis and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. In mature adipocytes, G
and GS individually caused apoptosis, but combination of G plus GS
significantly increased apoptosis, more than either compound alone.
Furthermore, G plus GS caused a greater increase in procaspase-3 cleavage, Bax
expression, cytochrome c release, and proteolytic cleavage of PARP than either
compound alone. In maturing preadipocytes G and GS each suppressed lipid
accumulation, but the combination potentiated the inhibition of lipid
accumulation. These results suggest that combination of genistein and
guggulsterone may exert anti-obesity effects by inhibiting adipogenesis and
inducing apoptosis in adipocytes.
