Antidiabetic Effect of Fermented Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. in db/db Mice Involves Regulation of PI3K-Akt Pathway.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a serious health issue with increasing incidences worldwide. However, current medications have limitations due to side effects such as decreased appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea, and extreme tiredness. Here, we report the effect of fermented ice plant (FMC) in the T2M mouse model of db/db mice. FMC showed a greater inhibition of lipid accumulation compared to unfermented ice plant extract. Two-week oral administration with FMC inhibited body weight gain, lowered fasting blood glucose, and improved glucose tolerance. Serum parameters related to T2D including insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, adiponectin, and cholesterols were improved as well. Histological analysis confirmed the protective effect of FMC on pancreas and liver destruction. FMC treatment significantly increased the expression and phosphorylation of IRS-1, PI3K, and AKT. Additionally, AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 were also increased in the liver tissues of db/db mice treated with FMC. Overall, our results indicate the anti-diabetic effect of FMC; therefore, we suggest that FMC may be useful as a therapeutic agent for T2D.

Immune-Enhancing Effect of Sargassum horneri on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in BALB/c Mice and Primary Cultured Splenocytes.

Sargassum horneri (SH) is a seaweed that has several features that benefit health. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing effect of SH, focusing on the role of spleen-mediated immune functions. Chromatographic analysis of SH identified six types of monosaccharide contents, including mannose, rhamnose glucose, galactose xylose and fucose. SH increased cell proliferation of primary cultured naïve splenocytes treated with or without cyclophosphamide (CPA), an immunosuppression agent. SH also reversed the CPA-induced decrease in Th1 cytokines. In vivo investigation revealed that SH administration can increase the tissue weight of major immune organs, such as the spleen and thymus. A similar effect was observed in CPA-injected immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. SH treatment increased the weight of the spleen and thymus, blood immune cell count and Th1 cytokine expression. Additionally, the YAC-1-targeting activities of natural killer cells, which are important in innate immunity, were upregulated upon SH treatment. Overall, our study demonstrates the immune-enhancing effect of SH, suggesting its potential as a medicinal or therapeutic agent for pathologic conditions involving immunosuppression.

Vanillic Acid Improves Comorbidity of Cancer and Obesity through STAT3 Regulation in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese and B16BL6 Melanoma-Injected Mice.

Obesity is known to be associated with risk and aggressiveness of cancer. Melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer, is also closely related to the prevalence of obesity. In this study, we established a cancer-obesity comorbidity (COC) model to investigate the effects of vanillic acid (VA). After a five-week administration with a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity, subcutaneous allograft of B16BL6 cells were followed, and VA was orally administrated for an additional two weeks. VA-fed mice showed significantly decreased body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, which were due to increased thermogenesis and AMPK activation in WATs. Growth of cancer was also suppressed. Mechanistic studies revealed increased apoptosis and autophagy markers by VA; however, caspase 3 was not involved. Since signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is suggested as an important pathway linking obesity and cancer, we further investigated to find out if STAT3 phosphorylation was repressed by VA treatment, and this was again confirmed in a COC cell model of adipocyte conditioned medium-treated B16BL6 melanoma cells. Overall, our results show VA induces STAT3-mediated autophagy to inhibit cancer growth and thermogenesis to ameliorate obesity in COC. Based on these findings, we suggest VA as a candidate therapeutic agent for COC treatment.

A phytoestrogen secoisolariciresinol diglucoside induces browning of white adipose tissue and activates non-shivering thermogenesis through AMPK pathway.

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is the main phytoestrogen component of flaxseed known as an antioxidant. Current study focused on the effect of SDG in white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. Browning of WAT is considered as a promising treatment strategy for metabolic diseases. To demonstrate the effect of SDG as an inducer of browning, brown adipocyte markers were investigated in inguinal WAT (iWAT) of high fat diet-fed obese mice and genetically obese db/db mice after SDG administration. SDG increased thermogenic factors such as uncoupling protein 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha and PR domain containing 16 in iWAT and brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice. Similar results were shown in beige-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary cultured brown adipocytes. Furthermore, SDG increased factors of mitochondrial biogenesis and activation. We also observed SDG-induced alteration of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα). As AMPKα is closely related in the regulation of adipogenesis and thermogenesis, we then evaluated the effect of SDG in AMPKα-inhibited conditions. Genetic or chemical inhibition of AMPKα demonstrated that the role of SDG on browning and thermogenesis was dependent on AMPKα signaling. In conclusion, our data suggest SDG as a potential candidate for improvement of obesity and other metabolic disorders.

Fruit of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. Induces Nonshivering Thermogenesis through Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Activation by SIRT1 in High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice and Primary Cultured Brown Adipocytes.

Brown adipocytes, which contain abundant mitochondria, use stored energy as fuel during a process named nonshivering thermogenesis. Thus, the pharmacological activation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) has become a promising target for treating obesity. We investigated the effect of fruit of Hovenial dulcis Thunb. (FHD), a frequently used herbal treatment for liver diseases, on thermogenesis and its mechanism using primary cultured brown adipocytes and BAT of high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Thermogenesis-related factors including UCP1 and PGC1α increased with FHD treatment. FHD also increased mitochondrial biogenesis and activation factors such as nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)1 and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex. Furthermore, FHD increased the intercellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) level and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity, which may be responsible for the activation of the thermogenic reaction. Overall, our results suggest that FHD can be a novel option for obesity treatment due to its thermogenic action through mitochondrial biogenesis and activation.

Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium Linné) Improves Obesity by Regulating Adipogenesis and Thermogenesis through AMPK Activation.

Obesity is a global health threat. Herein, we evaluated the underlying mechanism of anti-obese features of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium Linné, CA). Eight-week-administration of CA in high fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice resulted in a significant decrease of body weight, adipose tissue weight and serum cholesterol. In further in vitro studies, we observed decreased lipid droplets in CA-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha indicated CA-inhibited adipogenesis. Moreover, CA-treated primary cultured brown adipocytes displayed increased differentiation associated with elevation of thermogenic factors including uncoupling protein 1 and PPARγ coactivator 1 alpha as well. The effects of CA in both adipocytes were abolished in AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα)-suppressed environments, suggesting the anti-adipogenic and pro-thermogenic actions of CA were dependent on AMPKα pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest CA as a potential anti-obese agent which regulates adipogenesis and thermogenesis via AMPKα.

Correction: Vanillic acid attenuates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats and inhibits proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19909.].

Corrigendum: Berberine Improves Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia via Suppression of 5 Alpha Reductase and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase in Vivo and in Vitro.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00773.].

Platycodin D, a novel activator of AMP-activated protein kinase, attenuates obesity in db/db mice via regulation of adipogenesis and thermogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Platycodi Radix (root of Platycodon grandiflorum) and its active compound platycodin D (PD) has been previously shown to possess anti-obesity properties, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. PURPOSE: The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-obese effect of PD and reveal its mechanism of action. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: Genetically obese db/db mice were orally treated with PD for 4 weeks, and body weight gain, adipose tissue weight, serum parameters were measured. Then, assays on adipogenic factors, thermogenic factors, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway were performed in PD-treated 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), and primary cultured brown adipocytes. RESULTS: PD treatment attenuated body weight gain, suppressed white adipose tissue weight and improved obesity-related serum parameters in db/db mice. Two major adipogenic factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) were decreased by PD treatment in WAT of db/db mice, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hAMSCs. In BAT of db/db mice and primary cultured brown adipocytes, PD treatment elevated the expressions of uncoupled protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 α (PCG1α), the key regulators of BAT-associated thermogenesis. In addition, PD activated AMPKα both in vivo and in vitro. However, when AMPK was inhibited by compound C, PD treatment failed to suppress adipogenic factors and increase thermogenic factors. CONCLUSIONS: PD improved obesity in db/db mice by AMPK-associated decrease of adipogenic markers including PPARγ and C/EBPα. PD increased thermogenic factors such as UCP1 and PGC1α in db/db mice and primary cultured brown adipocytes. AMPK inhibition nullified the effects of PD, suggesting its anti-adipogenic and thermogenic actions were dependent on AMPK pathway activation.

Berberine Improves Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia via Suppression of 5 Alpha Reductase and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase in Vivo and in Vitro.

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly men, characterized by proliferated prostate and urinary tract symptoms. The hormonal cascade starting by the action of 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) is known to be one of the pathways responsible for the pathogenesis of BPH. Present investigation evaluated the capacity of berberine (BBR), a nature-derived compound abundant in Coptis japonica, in testosterone-induced BPH rats. Experimental BPH was induced by inguinal injection with testosterone propionate (TP) for 4 weeks. BBR or finasteride, a 5AR inhibitor as positive control, was treated for 4 weeks during BPH. BPH induced by TP evoked weight gaining and histological changes of prostate and BBR treatment improved all the detrimental effects not only weight reduction and histological changes but also suppression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is elevated during BPH. Additionally, BBR suppressed TP-associated increase of 5AR, androgen receptor (AR) and steroid coactivator-1 (SRC-1), the key factors in the pathogenesis of BPH. To evaluate the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for beneficial effects of BBR, we investigated whether these effects were associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. BPH induced by TP showed increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), whereas this was suppressed by BBR treatment. On the other hand, c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was not changed in BPH rats. In in vitro study using RWPE-1 cells, a human prostate epithelial cell line. TP increased cell proliferation and BPH-related key factors such as PSA, AR, and 5AR in RWPE-1 cells, and those factors were significantly decreased in the presence of BBR. Furthermore, these proliferative effects in RWPE-1cells were attenuated by treatment with U0126, an ERK inhibitor, confirming BBR can relieve overgrowth of prostate via ERK-dependent signaling. The cotreatment of U0126 and BBR did not affect the change of 5AR nor proliferation compared with U0126 alone, suggesting that the effect of BBR was dependent on the action of ERK. In conclusion, this study shows that BBR can be used as a therapeutic agent for BPH by controlling hyperplasia of prostate through suppression of ERK mechanism.

Vanillic acid attenuates obesity via activation of the AMPK pathway and thermogenic factors in vivo and in vitro.

Energy expenditure is a target gaining recent interest for obesity treatment. The antiobesity effect of vanillic acid (VA), a well-known flavoring agent, was investigated in vivo and in vitro. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and genetically obese db/db mice showed significantly decreased body weights after VA administration. Two major adipogenic markers, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), were reduced while the key factor of energy metabolism, AMPKα, was increased in the white adipose tissue and liver tissue of VA-treated mice. Furthermore, VA inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced hepatotoxic/inflammatory markers in liver tissues of mice and HepG2 hepatocytes. VA treatment also decreased differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by regulating adipogenic factors including PPARγ and C/EBPα. AMPKα small interfering RNA was used to examine whether AMPK was associated with the actions of VA. In AMPKα-nulled 3T3-L1 cells, the inhibitory action of VA on PPARγ and C/EBPα was attenuated. Furthermore, in brown adipose tissues of mice and primary cultured brown adipocytes, VA increased mitochondria- and thermogenesis-related factors such as uncoupling protein 1 and PPARγ-coactivator 1-α. Taken together, our results suggest that VA has potential as an AMPKα- and thermogenesis-activating antiobesity agent.-Jung, Y., Park, J., Kim, H.-L., Sim, J.-E., Youn, D.-H., Kang, J., Lim, S., Jeong, M.-Y., Yang, W. M., Lee, S.-G., Ahn, K. S., Um, J.-Y. Vanillic acid attenuates obesity via activation of the AMPK pathway and thermogenic factors in vivo and in vitro.

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside inhibits adipogenesis through the AMPK pathway.

Flaxseeds are used to treat metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is a main substance of lignan which belongs to the phytoestrogen family and exists abundantly in flaxseeds. In this study, SDG reduced the body weight and size of adipose tissue, and decreased protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) in the high fat diet-fed-induced obese mice model. In the vitro study, we examined the anti-adipogenic effect of SDG during differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated and treated with various concentrations of SDG. Oil Red O staining was done to measure the quantity of lipid contents. As a result, SDG reduced lipid accumulation and decreased the expressions of adipogenic-related genes such as adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein 2, adiponectin, and resistin. SDG also decreased the mRNA and protein levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα. Furthermore, phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPK α) and its upstream activator, liver kinase B1, were significantly increased by SDG in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that SDG inhibits adipogenesis by activating AMPKα, suggesting it could be an attractive therapeutic candidate for the treatment of obesity.

Vanillic acid attenuates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats and inhibits proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in the male population, especially in elderly men. Vanillic acid (VA), a dihydroxybenzoic derivative used as a flavoring agent, is reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, there are no reports of its effects on BPH to date. BPH was induced with a pre-4-week treatment of daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate (TP), and the normal control group received injections of ethanol with corn oil instead. Six weeks of further injections were done with (a) ethanol with corn oil, (b) TP only, (c) TP + finasteride, and (d) TP + VA. Finasteride was used as a positive control group. VA had protective effects on the TP-induced BPH. In the VA treatment group, the prostate weight was reduced, and the histological changes including the epithelial thickness and lumen area were restored like in the normal control group. Furthermore, in the VA treatment group, two proliferation related factors, high molecular weight cytokeratin 34ßE12 and α smooth muscle actin, were significantly down-regulated compared to the TP-induced BPH group. The expressions of dihydrotestosterone and 5α-reductase, the most crucial factors in BPH development, were suppressed by VA treatment. Expressions of the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor α and steroid receptor coactivator 1 were also significantly inhibited by VA compared to the TP-induced BPH group. In addition, we established an in vitro model for BPH by treating a normal human prostatic epithelial cell line RWPE-1 with TP. VA successfully inhibited proliferation and BPH-related factors in a concentration-dependent manner in this newly established model. These results suggest a new and potential pharmaceutical therapy of VA in the treatment of BPH.

Farnesol Has an Anti-obesity Effect in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice and Induces the Development of Beige Adipocytes in Human Adipose Tissue Derived-Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Brown adipocytes dissipate energy as heat and hence have an important therapeutic capacity for obesity. Development of brown-like adipocytes (also called beige) is also another attractive target for obesity treatment. Here, we investigated the effect of farnesol, an isoprenoid, on adipogenesis in adipocytes and on the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) as well as on the weight gain of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Farnesol inhibited adipogenesis and the related key regulators including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α through the up-regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase in 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes and human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). Farnesol markedly increased the expression of uncoupling protein 1 and PPARγ coactivator 1 α in differentiated hAMSCs. In addition, farnesol limited the weight gain in HFD obese mice and induced the development of beige adipocytes in both inguinal and epididymal WAT. These results suggest that farnesol could be a potential therapeutic agent for obesity treatment.

Albiflorin ameliorates obesity by inducing thermogenic genes via AMPK and PI3K/AKT in vivo and in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation has been identified as a possible target to treat obesity and to protect against metabolic diseases by increasing energy consumption. We explored whether albiflorin (AF), a natural compound, could contribute to lowering the high risk of obesity with BAT and primary brown preadipocytes in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS/METHODS: Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) were cultured with adipogenic differentiation media with or without AF. Male C57BL/6J mice (n=5 per group) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for six weeks with or without AF. Brown preadipocytes from the interscapular BAT of mice were cultured with or without AF. RESULTS: In white adipogenic differentiation of hAMSCs, AF treatment significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. In HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, AF treatment significantly reduced body weight gain as well as the weights of the white adipose tissue, liver and spleen. Furthermore, AF induced the expression of genes involved in thermogenic function in BAT. In primary brown adipocytes, AF effectively stimulated the expressions of thermogenic genes and markedly up-regulated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. Pretreatment with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 nullified the induction of the thermogenic genes by AF in primary brown adipocytes. Moreover, AF activated beige cell marker genes induced by the pharmacological activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in hAMSCs. CONCLUSION: This study shows that AF prevents the development of obesity in hAMSCs and mice fed an HFD and that it is also capable of stimulating the differentiation of brown adipocytes through the modulation of thermogenic genes by AMPK and PI3K/AKT.

Chrysophanic acid reduces testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats by suppressing 5α-reductase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common chronic diseases in male population, of which incidence increases gradually with age. In this study, we investigated the effect of chrysophanic acid (CA) on BPH. BPH was induced by a 4-week injection of testosterone propionate (TP). Four weeks of further injection with vehicle, TP, TP + CA, TP + finasteride was carried on. In the CA treatment group, the prostate weight was reduced and the TP-induced histological changes were restored as the normal control group. CA treatment suppressed the TP-elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) expression. In addition, 5α-reductase, a crucial factor in BPH development, was suppressed to the normal level close to the control group by CA treatment. The elevated expressions of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α and steroid receptor coactivator 1 by TP administration were also inhibited in the CA group when compared to the TP-induced BPH group. Then we evaluated the changes in three major factors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase chain during prostatic hyperplasia; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38). While ERK was elevated in the process of BPH, JNK and p38 was not changed. This up-regulated ERK was also reduced as normal by CA treatment. Further in vitro studies with RWPE-1 cells confirmed TP-induced proliferation and elevated AR, PSA and p-ERK were all reduced by CA treatment. Overall, these results suggest a potential pharmaceutical feature of CA in the treatment of BPH.

Chrysophanic Acid Suppresses Adipogenesis and Induces Thermogenesis by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Alpha In vivo and In vitro.

Chrysophanic acid (CA) is a member of the anthraquinone family abundant in rhubarb, a widely used herb for obesity treatment in Traditional Korean Medicine. Though several studies have indicated numerous features of CA, no study has yet reported the effect of CA on obesity. In this study, we tried to identify the anti-obesity effects of CA. By using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary cultured brown adipocytes as in vitro models, high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, and zebrafish as in vivo models, we determined the anti-obesity effects of CA. CA reduced weight gain in HFD-induced obese mice. They also decreased lipid accumulation and the expressions of adipogenesis factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α), the brown fat specific thermogenic genes, were up-regulated in brown adipocytes by CA treatment. Furthermore, when co-treated with Compound C, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, the action of CA on AMPKα was nullified in both types of adipocytes, indicating the multi-controlling effect of CA was partially via the AMPKα pathway. Given all together, these results indicate that CA can ameliorate obesity by controlling the adipogenic and thermogenic pathway at the same time. On these bases, we suggest the new potential of CA as an anti-obese pharmacotherapy.

Cinnamomi Cortex (Cinnamomum verum) Suppresses Testosterone-induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-reductase.

Cinnamomi cortex (dried bark of Cinnamomum verum) is an important drug in Traditional Korean Medicine used to improve blood circulation and Yang Qi. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic disease in aging men. This study was conducted to determine the effect of Cinnamomi cortex water extract (CC) on BPH. BPH was induced by a pre-4-week daily injection of testosterone propionate (TP). Six weeks of further injection with (a) vehicle, (b) TP, (c) TP + CC, (d) TP + finasteride (Fi) was carried on. As a result, the prostate weight and prostatic index of the CC treatment group were reduced. Histological changes including epithelial thickness and lumen area were recovered as normal by CC treatment. The protein expressions of prostate specific antigen, estrogen receptor α (ERα), androgen receptor (AR), 5α-reductase (5AR), and steroid receptor coactivator 1 were suppressed by treatment of CC. Immunohistochemical assays supported the western blot results, as the expressions of AR and ERα were down-regulated by CC treatment as well. Further in vitro experiments showed CC was able to inhibit proliferation of RWPE-1 cells by suppressing 5AR and AR. These results all together suggest CC as a potential treatment for BPH.

Veratri Nigri Rhizoma et Radix (Veratrum nigrum L.) and Its Constituent Jervine Prevent Adipogenesis via Activation of the LKB1-AMPKα-ACC Axis In Vivo and In Vitro.

This study was performed in order to investigate the antiobese effects of the ethanolic extract of Veratri Nigri Rhizoma et Radix (VN), a herb with limited usage, due to its toxicology. An HPLC analysis identified jervine as a constituent of VN. By an Oil Red O assay and a Real-Time RT-PCR assay, VN showed higher antiadipogenic effects than jervine. In high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese C57BL/6J mice, VN administration suppressed body weight gain. The levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein (aP2), adiponectin, resistin, and LIPIN1 were suppressed by VN, while SIRT1 was upregulated. Furthermore, VN activated phosphorylation of the liver kinase B1- (LKB1-) AMP-activated protein kinase alpha- (AMPKα-) acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) axis. Further investigation of cotreatment of VN with the AMPK agonist AICAR or AMPK inhibitor Compound C showed that VN can activate the phosphorylation of AMPKα in compensation to the inhibition of Compound C. In conclusion, VN shows antiobesity effects in HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, VN has antiadipogenic features, which is due to activating the LKB1-AMPKα-ACC axis. These results suggest that VN has a potential benefit in preventing obesity.