Abstract:
The prevalence of diabetes and heart diseases is increasing in the world. Nutraceuticals of natural origin are
gaining importance as an alternative to modern drugs for the management of metabolic syndrome. In the
present study, punicic acid (PA), a major bioactive found in pomegranate seed, was subjected for biological
characterization with respect to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) agonist
property in anin vitro system (3T3-L1 adipocytes). We evaluated the adipogenic potential of various
concentrations (5, 10 and 30mM) of PA by studying triglyceride accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate
dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity in adipocytes, which were found to be increased moderately compared
with the positive control,i.e. rosiglitazone (RG). Glucose uptake activity ([225.93% 2.55% for 30mMof
PA), and the prevention of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (Y57 1.83% for 30mM of PA) in
adipocytes with PA were also evaluated. We also found that PA increased adiponectin secretion and
upregulated GLUT4 expression and translocation in adipocytes. Molecular modelling studies revealed a
high binding affinity of PA to the PPARgligand binding domain. An in vitro ligand binding assay based on
time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) also proved PA as a PPARgagonist.
Finally, we conclude that PA is a potential nutraceutical and should be encouraged for use both as a
prophylactic and therapeutic agent
