Combined Anti-Adipogenic Effects of Hispidulin and p -Synephrine on 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Hispidulin is abundant in Arrabidaea chica , Crossostephium chinense , and Grindelia argentina , among others. p -Synephrine is the main phytochemical constituent of Citrus aurantium . It has been used in combination with various other phytochemicals to determine synergistic effects in studies involving human participants. However, there have been no reports comparing the anti-adipogenic effects of the combination of hispidulin and p -synephrine. The current study explores the anti-adipogenic effects of hispidulin alone and in combination with p -synephrine in a murine preadipocyte cell line, 3T3-L1. Co-treatment resulted in a greater inhibition of the formation of red-labeled lipid droplets than the hispidulin or p -synephrine-alone treatments. Co-treatment with hispidulin and p -synephrine also significantly inhibited adipogenic marker proteins, including Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinases, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha, glucocorticoid receptor, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β. Although further studies are required to assess the effects of each drug on pharmacokinetic parameters, a combination treatment with hispidulin and p -synephrine may be a potential alternative strategy for developing novel anti-obesity drugs.