Kawita ChumphoochaiPawanrat ChalorakWorawit SuphamungmeePrasert SobhonKrai MeemonMahidol UniversityBurapha University2020-01-272020-01-272019-06-01Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Vol.99, No.8 (2019), 4158-416610970010002251422-s2.0-85063259042https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/49759© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry BACKGROUND: Saponins have been shown to possess many pharmacological properties, including altered fat metabolism. The black sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota, is a marine animal that contains a specialized organ called a Cuvierian tubule that produces and secrete the bioactive saponins into the tubules and body wall. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate the anti-obesity effect of saponins extracted from body wall and Cuvierian tubules of H. leucospilota. RESULTS: The butanol extracts of H. leucospilota body wall and Cuvierian tubules containing high amounts of saponins significantly reduced fat deposition and triglyceride levels in Caenorhabditis elegans fed with 50 mmol L−1 glucose. Moreover, the saponin-enriched extracts of H. leucospilota significantly restored the lifespan of 2% glucose-fed worms (18.71%). Green fluorescence protein-labeled sbp-1 gene expression and nuclear translocation of daf-16 were also significantly decreased in H. leucospilota treatment. The saponin-enriched extracts downregulated the messenger RNA expressions of genes involved in fat storage and metabolism, including sbp-1, cebp, and daf-16 but upregulated the expression of nhr-49 gene. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that H. leucospilota-derived saponins may mediate the reduction of glucose-induced fat accumulation through sbp-1, cebp, daf-16 and nhr-9 pathways. Therefore, the H. leucospilota extracts could be used as nutraceuticals for anti-obesity prevention. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.Mahidol UniversityAgricultural and Biological SciencesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyArticleSCOPUS10.1002/jsfa.9646