International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences EVALUATION OF THE ADIPOGENIC POTENTIAL AND GLUCOSE UPTAKE STIMULATORY ACTIVITY OF PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA AND TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA: AN IN VITRO STUDY

The present study was conducted to explore the adipogenic potential and glucose uptake stimulatory activity of Phyllanthus emblica and Tinospora cordifolia using 3T3L1 fibroblast cell line as pre-adipocytes.The plant extracts were substituted for insulin in the Insulin-IBMX-DEX cocktail used for differentiation of pre-adipocytes. The degree of differentiation of these plants was assessed by Oil Red O staining of the adipocytes followed by quantification of the stain. Glucose uptake activity exhibited by these plants at the end of differentiation was also assessed. It was observed that both Phyllanthus emblica and Tinospora cordifolia exhibited minimal differentiation of adipocytes as compared to the cells differentiated with IBMX-DEX alone and the effect was less as compared to both insulin and pioglitazone differentiated groups. However these plants demonstrated stimulation of glucose uptake with Phyllanthus emblica showing greater effect. Hence, it is necessary to explore the effect of these plants on glut-4 expression and the transcription factors involved in adipogenesis followed by dose finding studies to confirm their action. SAMIDHA KALEKAR Department of Clinical Pharmacology, TN Medical College & BYL Nair Ch. Hospital,