To evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Agrimonia pilosa L., this study investigated that ethyl acetate extract from A. pilosa L. (EAAP) suppresses lipid accumulation and inhibits expression of adipogenic marker genes, such as peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We demonstrated that EAAP inhibited adipocyte differentiation and expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EAAP reduced the PPARγ transcriptional activity stimulated by rosiglitazone in HEK 293T cells and decreased the expression of GLUT4 and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that EAAP inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by blocking of PPARγ and C/EBPα gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells.

Keywords: Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., adipogenesis, PPARγ, C/EBPα, 3T3-L1 cells