Author(s): GPR Mengue N’dille, LF Biyiti, T Fromme, JL Essame Oyono and M Klingenspor

Abstract: Several traditional medicinal plants have been investigated with respect to their anti-obesity potential. Ipomoea alba (common names: Iwong or Moon Wine) is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine as a laxative and anti-diabetic agent as well as to promote weight loss and improve breast milk quality. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effect of Iwong in cultured adipocytes. We assessed the effect of ethanolic extracts of Iwong in vitro on adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with ethanolic extracts of Iwong significantly reduced lipid accumulation after 9 days. This reduction was associated with a significant decrease in glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and PPARg and C/EBPa mRNA levels. The anti-adipogenic effect of Iwong was restricted to the early phases of adipogenesis. Our results indicate that Iwong contains natural substances potentially suitable for the treatment of obesity via inhibition of lipid accumulation.