Anti-obesity activity of siphonaxanthin, a unique carotenoid in green algae, and its mechanism.

管黄质是一种存在于管藻科绿色藻类中的类胡萝卜素，其生物功能性质尚待研究。在这方面，我们着重阐明了管黄质的抗肥胖作用。管黄质可有效抑制3 T3-L1前脂肪细胞的分化。此外，成脂基因的mRNA表达下降的处理与管黄质。在使用KK-Ay小鼠作为肥胖模型的动物研究中，通过口服给予管黄质减少了腹部白色脂肪组织。在这种情况下，在管黄质处理的小鼠中，脂肪生成基因的mRNA表达被抑制，而脂肪分解基因的mRNA表达被增加。

Siphonaxanthin is a specific carotenoid found in siphonaceous green algae and its bio-functional properties are yet to be studied. In this regard, we focused on elucidating the anti-obesity effect of siphonaxanthin. Siphonaxanthin potently inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In addition, mRNA expression of adipogenic genes was decreased by the treatment with siphonaxanthin. In the animal study using KK-Ay mice as obesity model, abdominal white adipose tissue was decreased by oral administration of siphonaxanthin. In this case, mRNA expression of lipogenic genes was suppressed and lipolytic genes were increased in siphonaxanthin-treated mice.These findings suggest that siphonaxanthin could be potentially useful as a nutraceutical.