Anti-adipogenic and anti-oxidant effects of a standardised extract of Moro blood oranges (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Particular features in the pulp of blood oranges are marked levels of anthocyanin, a class of polyphenolic compounds well known to exert numerous health-promoting actions on human wellbeing including anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated in vitro, the antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities of Morosil (R), a standardised extract of Moro blood oranges. During adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with concentrations of extract containing 2.5, 5, 10, 25 mu M of anthocyanins. After seven days of treatment and differentiation, we measured reactive oxygen species production, non-proteic thiol groups content, adipokine secretion and triglyceride accumulation together with mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as PPAR gamma, C/EBP alpha, SREBP-1c. Furthermore, both ACC alpha, FAS protein expression and citrate synthase activity were measured. Results show that Morosil (R) exerts antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that Morosil (R) exhibits antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities during adipocyte differentiation, impacting various factors involved in fat metabolism and adipogenesis.