The aim of this study was to investigate the suppressive activity of 70% ethanol extract and its dichloromethane fraction from Auricularia auricula-judae against adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The ethanol extract and its dichloromethane fraction suppressed the differentiation and decreased lipid droplets in vitro. The dose-dependent increasing concentration of glycerol and lower triglycerides accumulation were found significantly (P < 0.05) with the treatment of both fractions from 70% ethanolic Auricularia auricula-judae extract and the glycerol-3-3phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was also inhibited by both extracts. Further, the expression of adipogenic mRNAs were investigated by RT-PCR amplification. The key transcriptional factors, PPARγ and C/EBPα were decreased significantly at dose-dependent manner by both extracts of Auricularia auricula-judae. The expressions of LPL and FAS were also decreased by presence of these extracts. The decreased expressions of C/EBPβ, C/EBPγ and ACC1 were observed only by ethanol extract at 300 μg/ml concentration, while the expression of SREBP-1c, GLUT4 and aP2 were not altered in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These changes were occurred without the cytotoxic effect of both extracts against 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. A positive control, fenofibrate inhibited the differentiation, triglycerides accumulation through PPARγ signaling by 2/3 reduction of PPARγ expression. Thus, these findings suggest that both extracts of Auricularia auricula-judae might be used to inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and reduction of triglycerides accumulation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor activity of solvent fractions from Auricularia auricula-judae 70% ethanol extract and confirmed the active components of dichloromethane fraction showing a potent antitumor activity than other fractions in the broncheoalveolar and gastric cancer cells. The solvent fractions of Auricularia auricula-judae extract, inhibited the growth proliferation of tumor cells in dose-dependent manner. The principle components of dichloromethane fraction were 5,11,17,23-tetrakis (1,1-dimethyl)-28-methoxypentacyclo [19.3.1.1 (3,7).1 (… (65.85%) and diazane (6.17%). The antitumor active components, diazane and gibberellic acid (GA3) were identified in this fraction by GC-MS analysis and lower antitumor activities than dichloromethane fraction. The unknown components of dichloromethane fraction were responsible for its cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. Based on IC50 value, gibberellic acid was little cytotoxic itself. According to PCR amplification, the apoptosis of tumor cells were induced by the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and over-expression of P53 on the presence of solvent fractions, diazane and gibberellic acid. Thus, these findings suggest that the dichloromethane might be used as functional feed additive that suppress the tumor growth in the body than other solvent fractions of Auricularia auricula-judae extracts.