Samjunghwan (SJH) was fermented using five different probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium longum) separately. We examined the inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation through Oil Red O staining and analyzed the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EPBα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), uncoupling protein (UCP)-2, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase which are adipogenic transcription factors. Both Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium-fermented SJH reduced Oil Red O dye staining compared with the same dose of non-fermented SJH. Only Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented SJH inhibited all adipogenic transcription factors and showed the best down-regulation of PPARγ, UCP-2, and HMG-CoA reductase compared with the same dose of non-fermented SJH. The effect of SJH on the inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation was more prominent from the fermented SJH. Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented SJH, in particular, blocks the expression of PPARγ, UCP-2, HMG-CoA reductase.

Keywords: Samjunghwan, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte, probiotics, fermentation