In Vitro Investigation of Cinnamon-Ethanol Extract Anti-Adipogenic Effect on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Abstract

Obesity, a longstanding global food security issue, has increased in Indonesia since the COVID-19 pandemic due to higher consumption of high-fat, high-sugar foods and more sedentary activity during quarantine. Prevention of obesity can be achieved from the molecular phase through treatment with spice extract, like cinnamon, to mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The bioactive compound present in cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, eugenol) possesses anti-adipogenic properties that is able to promote growth in 3T3-L1 while inhibiting the process of lipid accumulation in the cells through modulation of certain molecular pathways. This study aims to evaluate the effect of cinnamon-ethanol extract (CEE) activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell viability and lipid accumulation. The results showed that CEE, in all concentration ranges of 1000, 250, 62.5, and 15.625 μg/mL, can significantly increase the percentage of cell viability, particularly, the extract produced the most and least cell viability at 1000 and 15.625 μg/mL, respectively (p < 0.0001 vs. p < 0.031). Furthermore, the CEE concentration at 15.625 μg/mL is able to suppress lipid accumulation significantly (p < 0.0001) by inhibiting adipogenesis and other lipid-synthesizing processes.