International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition Research International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition Research Volume 1 Issue 1.1008 Research Trapa japonica inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation and Adipogenesis through AMPK Signaling Pathway in 3T3-L1 Pre-adipocytes Cheol Park 1 , Yong Hwang 2 , Buyng Su Hwang 2 , Su Young Shin 2 , Pyo Yun Cho 2 , Seung Young Lee 2 , Kyung-Min Choi 2 , Ki Won Lee 3 , Gi-Young Kim 4 , Yung Hyun Choi 4* , Jin-Woo Jeong 2* 1 Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Dong-eui University, Busan 47340, Republic of Korea 2 Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources, 137, Donam 2-gil, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37242, Republic of Korea 3 Kwangdong Pharm Co., Ltd 1206, 271, Digital-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 4 Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea 5 Department of Biochemistry, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University, Busan 47227, Republic of Korea Introduction Obesity is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal regulation of energy metabolism in the body when energy intake exceeds consumption for a prolonged period of time to convert the excess energy into fat that accumulates in the subcutaneous or abdominal regions. Of particular note is adipokine produced and secreted by the adipocytes, which is a known risk factor of neurodegenerative diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as well as of various cancer types including breast, endometrial, gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancer [1-3]. Corresponding Author: Yung Hyun Choi, Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea; Jin-Woo Jeong, Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources, 137, Donam 2-gil, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37242, Republic of Korea Received date: November 01, 2019; Accepted date: November 11, 2019; Published date: November 12, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31546/IJFSNR.1008 Abstract Trapa japonica (water caltrop) is one of the main aquatic plant with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with anti-obesity have not been fully identified. In the present study, we investigated the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by Hot-Water extracts of T. japonica (WETJ) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Treatment with WETJ suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in the lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. WETJ significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ. In addition, WETJ potentially downregulated the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including aP2 and leptin. Furthermore, WETJ treatment effectively increased the phosphorylation of the AMPK and ACC; however, treatment with a potent inhibitor of AMPK, compound C, significantly restored the WETJ-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors. These results together indicate that WETJ has preeminent effects on the inhibition of adipogenesis through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds in T. japonica. Keywords: Trapa japonica, Adipogenesis, AMPK, 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes.