Abstract
Ginkgo biloba L. biflavones were shown to increase cAMP phosphodiesterase activity and to stimulate skin microcirculation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether biflavones were able to stimulate lipolysis in adipocytes. Lipolysis was assayed in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 fat cells in the presence of biflavones at 0.005 - 100 μM. Cell viability was evaluated at 0.5 - 100 μM. Theophylline and caffeine were used as reference compounds. Lipolytic activity in untreated cells was 0.62 ± 0.15 μmoles glycerol/mg DNA/h. All biflavones except sciadopitysin stimulated lipolysis in a concentration-dependent fashion. Maximal stimulation was observed at 0.1 - 0.5 μM. At higher concentrations the effect diminished progressively and was lost at 100 μM. Only a partial loss of cell viability was observed with biflavones at 10 - 100 μM.
References
-
1 Ryan T J, Curri S B. In Clinics in Dermatology. J.B. Lippincott Publishing Company Philadelphia; 1989: 37-47
-
2
Della Loggia R, Sosa S, Tubaro A, Morazzoni P, Bombardelli E, Griffini A.
Anti-inflammatory activity of some Ginkgo biloba constituents and of their phospholipid-complexes.
Fitoterapia.
1996;
67
257-64
-
3
Bombardelli E, Cristoni A, Curri S B.
Activity of phospholipid-complex of Ginkgo biloba dimeric flavonoids on the skin microcirculation.
Fitoterapia.
1996;
67
265-73
-
4
Saponara R, Bosisio E.
Inhibition of cAMP-phosphodiesterase by biflavones of Ginkgo biloba in rat adipose tissue.
Journal of Natural Products.
1998;
61
1386-7
-
5
Allen D O, Clark J F, Ashmore J.
Study on phosphodiesterase inhibitors on lipolysis, phosphodiesterase activity and cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate levels in isolated fat cells.
Journal Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
1973;
185
379-85
-
6
Gobbato S, Griffini A, Lolla E, Peterlongo F.
HPLC quantitative analysis of biflavones in Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts and their identification by thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Fitoterapia.
1996;
67
152-8
-
7
Elks M L, Manganiello M L.
Selective effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on different phosphodiesterases, adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate metabolism, and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Endocrinology.
1987;
115
1262-8
-
8 Wieland O H. In: Bergmeyer HU, Ed Methods of enzymatic analysis. Vol. 6 Academic Press London, New York; 1984: 504-10
-
9
Thomas T R, Wilfinger W W.
Fluorometric quantitation of DNA in cells and tissue.
Analytical Biochemistry.
1983;
131
538-47
-
10
De Lean A, Munson P J, Rodbard D.
Simultaneous analysis of families of sigmoidal curves: application to bioassay, radioligand assay, and physiological dose-response curves.
American Journal of Physiology.
1978;
235
E97-102
-
11
Denizot F, Lang R.
Rapid colorimetric assay for cell growth and survival. Modifications to the tetrazolium dye procedure giving improved sensitivity and reliability.
Journal of Immunological Methods.
1986;
89
271-7
Prof. Enrica Bosisio
Department of Pharmacological Sciences
Via Balzaretti 9
20133 Milano
Italy
Phone: +39-02-20488372
Fax: +39-02-29404961
Email: enrica.bosisio@unimi.it
