Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Carum carvi, commonly known as caraway, is a medicinal and culinary plant recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties, primarily attributed to its essential oil components. However, the thermogenic potential of caraway-particularly the biological activity of its water-soluble extract-remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of caraway on Ucp-1 mRNA expression in beige adipocytes and on inflammation-mediated suppression of thermogenesis, by treating C3H10T1/2 adipocytes with caraway water extract (CWE) or caraway hexane extract (CHE) during both the induction and maturation phases, followed by isoproterenol stimulation, and measurement of mRNA levels of Ucp-1 and differentiation-related genes. Additionally, RAW264.7 cells were treated with CWE prior to stimulation with lipopolysaccharides followed by evaluation of inflammatory marker expression. CWE increased Ucp-1 mRNA expression directly by enhancing adrenergic sensitivity and promoting beige adipocyte differentiation during the induction phase of differentiation. Further, CWE mediated an indirect effect on Ucp-1 expression by suppressing macrophage inflammation, thus restoring Ucp-1 expression otherwise inhibited under inflammatory conditions. These results suggest that caraway extracts-especially the water-soluble compounds-may serve as therapeutic candidates for obesity-related conditions by enhancing energy expenditure and mitigating chronic inflammation.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms262210970

PubMed

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Oxford University Press (OUP)  

Abstract

We investigated the effects of piceatannol on the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs). Treatment with piceatannol increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic differentiation gene molecules (Osteocalcin and Runx2), but this was attenuated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors (PD098059 or SB203580). Our data suggest that piceatannol promotes osteogenic differentiation of HPLFs by activating MAPKs.

DOI： 10.1093/bbb/zbaf040

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Other Link： https://academic.oup.com/bbb/article-pdf/89/6/894/62575531/zbaf040.pdf

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

DOI： 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150771

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Oxford University Press (OUP)  

Abstract

Recently, it has been suggested that brown and beige adipocytes may ameliorate obesity because these adipocytes express uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), which generates heat by consuming lipid. However, obesity-induced inflammation suppresses the expression of UCP-1. To improve such conditions, food components with anti-inflammatory properties are attracting attention. In this study, we developed a modified system to evaluate only the indirect effects of anti-inflammatory food-derived compounds by optimizing the conventional experimental system using conditioned medium. We validated this new system using 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, which have been reported to show the anti-inflammatory effects and to increase the basal expression of UCP-1 mRNA. In addition, we found that the acetone extract of Sarcodon aspratus, an edible mushroom, showed anti-inflammatory effects and rescued the inflammation-induced suppression of UCP-1 mRNA expression. These findings indicate that the system with conditioned medium is valuable for evaluation of food-derived compounds with anti-inflammatory effects on the inflammation-induced thermogenic adipocyte dysfunction.

DOI： 10.1093/bbb/zbae033

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Other Link： https://academic.oup.com/bbb/article-pdf/88/6/679/57805580/zbae033.pdf

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Center for Academic Publications Japan  

DOI： 10.3177/jnsv.69.420

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