Saccharina japonica fermented by Monascus spp. inhibit adipogenic differentiation and gene expression analyzed by real-time PCR (Q-PCR) in 3T3-L1 cell

Monascus-fermented Saccharina japonica extract was evaluated to prevent preadipocyte to adipogenic differentiation in 3T3L-1 cells. The Oil red O staining of sample treated 3T3L-1 cells showed reduction of lipid accumulation and adipocyte differentiation in a dose dependent manner. The mRNA gene expression measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) for adipogenic gene expression showed that the C/EBP-α expression was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in lovastatin rich fermented extract than unfermented one. The gene expression of PPAR-γ displayed significant difference between the fermented extract treated cells and control cells. The relative gene expression of FAS, LPL and SREBP1 were significantly lower in Monascus-fermented extract than unfermented one. Furthermore, the cell cycle of the 3T3L-1 cells also arrested in G1/S phase which was expressed by the significant reduction of gene expression, Cyclin A and CDK4 in Monascus-fermented extract than unfermented one. So, Monascus-fermented brown seaweed effectively controlled the adipogenic gene expression and inhibited lipid accumulation.