Identification of novel anti-obesity saponins from the ovary of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus)
Hyo-Deok Seo,
Ji-Young Lee,
So-Hyun Park,
Eunyoung Lee,
Jeong-Hoon Hahm,
Jiyun Ahn,
A Ra Jang,
So Hee An,
Jang Ho Ha,
Kyoung Tai No,
Chang Hwa Jung
Affiliations
Hyo-Deok Seo
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
Ji-Young Lee
Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
So-Hyun Park
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
Eunyoung Lee
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
Jeong-Hoon Hahm
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
Jiyun Ahn
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea
A Ra Jang
Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
So Hee An
Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
Jang Ho Ha
Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
Kyoung Tai No
Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author.
Chang Hwa Jung
Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea; Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author. at: Aging and Metabolism Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Jeollabuk-do, 55365, Republic of Korea.
The potential anti-obesity effects of sea cucumber extract have been reported. However, the individual saponins responsible for these effects are yet to be isolated and characterized. This study aimed to identify the most effective sea cucumber body part for inhibiting lipid accumulation in adipocytes and to elucidate the compounds responsible for this effect using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Sea cucumber ovary 80 % ethanol extract (SCOE) demonstrated remarkable efficacy in inhibiting adipocyte differentiation compared to other sea cucumber body parts with 50 % or 80 % ethanol extracts. SCOE anti-obesity effect was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet, which revealed significant reductions in body weight, serum lipids, adipose tissue, and liver weight. Using column chromatography, eight saponins were isolated from the SCOE, four of which exhibited potent inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation. Of these, three active saponins, holotoxins A, B, and D1, were newly identified. These findings highlight the potential of SCOE and its saponins as effective anti-obesity agents.
