Effects of urolithin A on adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: an experimental study

Purpose: This study investigated whether urolithin A inhibits pre-adipocyte differentiation via adipogenic, lipogenic, energy metabolism, and lipolytic pathways.Materials and Methods: Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to a range of concentrations (0–500 µM), followed by assessment of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) enzymatic activity, lipid accumulation via Oil Red O staining, intracellular triglyceride content, free glycerol release, and transcriptional changes in genes associated with adipogenesis, lipid synthesis, energy metabolism, and lipolysis.Results: Urolithin A did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity (1.8–8.2%) at concentrations of 10–50 µM. IC50 value of urolithin A on 3T3-L1 cells was determined to be 563.82 µM. Treatment with urolithin A resulted in a 18.4–29.3% decrease in adipocyte lipid content and a 11.23–39.56% increase in free glycerol release. Urolithin A, particularly at 25 and 50 µM, markedly reduced the expression of adipogenic, lipogenic, energy metabolism, and lipolytic genes.Conclusion: Urolithin A demonstrated potential anti-adipogenic effects, evidenced by reduced terminal differentiation and lipid accumulation along with increased free glycerol release. These effects were associated with the suppression of adipogenic, lipogenic, energy metabolism, and lipolytic factors. The findings suggest that consuming foods containing ellagic acid and ellagitannins, which are the precursors of urolithin A, may help to prevent obesity.