Anti-lipogenic and thermogenic potency of Padina tetrastromatica bioactives in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 cells and their efficacy based thermogenic food supplement to mitigate obesity

Padina tetrastromatica is underexploited and potentially sustainable brown algae, rich in anti-obesity molecules
total lipids (pTL), fucoxanthin (pFx), polysaccharides and polyphenols. The comprehensive molecular mechanistic
role of P.tetrastromatica (pFx and pTL) on metabolic potency to mitigate obesity is elusive. We studied the
anti-obesity effect of pTL and pFx in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 cells. Based on the in vitro findings, a novel low
glycemic index (GI) cereal (barley) and P.tetrastromatica based thermogenic food was formulated and its nutritional
and antioxidative properties were evaluated. No potential toxicity was observed in the cells on pTL and
pFx treatment. pTL and pFx significantly reduced triglyceride accumulation, rejuvenated mitochondrial membrane
potential, down-regulated phosphorylated serine/threonine protein kinase (pAKT), phosphorylated
extracellular signal regulated receptor kinase (pERK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma(PPAR-
γ), adipose-specific fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1C (SREBP-1C),
lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and Acyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) that play a key role in adipogenesis. Antioxidative
proteins (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1-NQO-1), thermogenic
genes (sirtuin 1-SIRT1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha-PGC1-α and
uncoupling protein-1 UCP-1), mitochondrial-biogenesis (transcription factor A mitochondrial-TFAM), β-oxidative
enzymes (carnitine palmitoyl-transferase1- CPT1 and Acyl-CoA oxidase- ACO) were up-regulated. Proximate
analysis and bioactive assessment of product justified the nutritional quality of the food and displayed low GI
value. Functional food prepared was nutritious and its bioactives pTL and pFx proved to exert anti-adipogenic
and thermogenic effects in 3T3-L1 cells. Hence, P.tetrastromatica and barley-based functional food can have
potential applications in the management of obesity.