Fargesin improves lipid and glucose metabolism in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes and high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice

Abstract This study examined the effects of fargesin, a neolignan isolated from Magnolia plants, on obesity and insulin resistance and the possible mechanisms involved in these effects in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes and high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice. Fargesin promoted the glucose uptake in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. In HFD‐induced obese mice, fargesin decreased the body weight gain, white adipose tissue (WAT), and plasma triglyceride, non‐esterified fatty acid and glucose levels, and improved the glucose tolerance. Fargesin increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression and phosphorylation of Akt, AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) in both 3T3‐L1 adipocytes and WAT of HFD‐induced obese mice. Fargesin also decreased the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid oxidation‐related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 (CPT‐1), uncoupling protein‐2 (UCP‐2) and leptin in WAT. Taken together, the present findings suggest that fargesin improves dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia by activating Akt and AMPK in WAT. © 2012 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.