The Hexane Extract of Citrus sphaerocarpa Ameliorates Visceral Adiposity by Regulating the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 and AMPK/ACC Signaling Pathways in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Obesity is an emerging global health issue with an increasing risk of disease linked to lifestyle choices. Previously, we reported that the hexane extract of Citrus sphaerocarpa (CSHE) suppressed lipid accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In this study, we conducted in vivo experiments to assess whether CSHE suppressed obesity in zebrafish and mouse models. We administered 10 and 20 µg/mL CSHE to obese zebrafish juveniles. CSHE significantly inhibited visceral fat accumulation compared to untreated obese fish. Moreover, the oral administration (100 µg/g body weight/day) of CSHE to high-fat-diet-induced obese mice significantly reduced their body weight, visceral fat volume, and hepatic lipid accumulation. The expression analyses of key regulatory genes involved in lipid metabolism revealed that CSHE upregulated the mRNA expression of lipolysis-related genes in the mouse liver (Pparα and Acox1) and downregulated lipogenesis-related gene (Fasn) expression in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Fluorescence immunostaining demonstrated the CSHE-mediated enhanced phosphorylation of AKT, AMPK, ACC, and FoxO1, which are crucial factors regulating adipogenesis. CSHE-treated differentiated 3T3L1 adipocytes also exhibited an increased phosphorylation of ACC. Therefore, we propose that CSHE suppresses adipogenesis and enhances lipolysis by regulating the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 and AMPK/ACC signaling pathways. These findings suggested that CSHE is a promising novel preventive and therapeutic agent for managing obesity.

Heat deterioration of phospholipids. VI. Clarification of mechanism for the new pseudo Maillard rearrangement reaction by using 2-aminoethyl dihydrogenphosphate.

2,3-Dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-4-ylium derivatives with UV absorption at 350 nm were formed by reaction of one molar of any sugar except 2-deoxysugars with two molar of phosphatidylethanolamines involving a new pseudo Maillard rearrangement reaction. To elucidate the reaction mechanism, 2-aminoethyl dihydrogenphosphate, which had a partially similar structural moiety to PE, was reacted with D-galactose. Though the UV absorption at 365 nm was not observed and the four pyridinium derivatives were also not formed in the reactant solution, the UV absorption at 286 nm and browning of the reactant solution were observed. From this reactant solution, two compounds with lambdamax at 283 nm and 297 nm were isolated and former was determined as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and later did as phosphoric acid mono{2-[2-formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]ethyl}ester (PMPEE), which is a new compound, respectively. Because reaction of PMPEE with PE leads to form the pyridinium derivatives, we concluded that a compound like PMPEE was one of intermediates in this new reaction.

Heat deterioration of phospholipids. V. A new rearrangement reaction of sugars and phosphatidylethanolamine.

Novel four 2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-4-ylium derivatives were obtained with increase of UV absorption at 350 nm and browning of the solution by heating paste lecithin from soybean (SL) in octane. These four derivatives were formed by reaction of one molar of any sugar except 2-deoxysugars with two molar of phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) in SL. To confirm the reaction mechanism, several (13)C-labeled-sugars were reacted with 1,2-di-O-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE), respectively. These reactants clearly showed that five carbons of the pyridinium ring and one carbon of the substituted group were based on those of a sugar and that the formation of the pyridinium derivatives was accompanied with cleaving between the carbons of 1- and 2-positions in the sugar and rearrangement. This reaction is a new rearrangement reaction and we named it "new pseudo Maillard rearrangement reaction".