In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of amentoflavon. Amentoflavone(AMF) is a naturally occurring plant alkaloid found in a number of different plants, most notably Gingko biloba and St John's Wort. Studies have shown that this compound possesses a plethora of benefits ranging from improving overall health to combating disease. It also has demonstrated a number of benefits for exercise, leading it to garner attention from trainers, athletes and supplement manufacturers, particularly those in the pre workout and fat burner market.

Amentoflavone inhibits adipocyte differentiation

The accumulation of body fat greatly depends on adipocyte differentiation, also known as adipogenic differentiation or adipogenesis. Adipocyte differentiation is a complex process which is divided into four steps, including initial growth arrest, mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), early differentiation and terminal differentiation, namely the development of the mature adipocyte phenotype. Adipocyte differentiation is regulated by a series of signaling pathways triggered by an adipogenic stimulus. 

Amentoflavone (AMF) for metabolic dysfunction induced by high fat (HF) diet was assessed and focused on the effect of AMT on adipogenesis differentiation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. 

3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were subjected to adipogenic differentiation in the presence of 1-10 µg/ml AMF for 8 days. (A) After differentiation, lipid accumulation in adipocytes was examined by Oil Red O staining and observed under a microscope. (B) The oil droplets were then dissolved in isopropanol and the absorbance of the dyeetriglyceride complex was measured at 510 nm. The results are expressed as folds of DMI. (C)

It was examined the effects of AMF on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation in vitro. AMF inhibited the accumulation of oil droplets in the differentiated adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that AMF suppressed 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of AMF on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation during different stages of differentiation. It was indicated that AMF exerted inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation at different stages of differentiation.

Amentoflavone attenuates metabolic dysfunction

Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome are prevalent world-wide. These metabolic disorders are characterized by the disruption of glucose and lipid metabolism. 

The inhibitory effects of AMF on adipocyte differentiation contribute to its protective effects against HF diet-induced metabolic dysfunction. Overall, the data in our study provide novel insight into the mechanisms responsible for the protective effects of AMF against HF diet-induced metabolic dysfunction and those for its inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation. 

Schematic diagram of the molecular mechanisms underlying the amentoflavone (AMF) induced protective effects against adipogenic differentiation and metabolic dysfunction.

In conclusion, in the present study, we found that AMF attenuated metabolic dysfunction in HF diet-fed rats and exerted inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. The data from the present study provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of AMF against metabolic dysfunction and the inhibitory effects of AMF on adipocyte differentiation. And fat gain in the process of weight loss also has a good description.