Effects of stevioside on in-vitro adipocyte differentiation / Muhammad Farhi Md Yusoff

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance leading to irregularities in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Commercially available drugs like metformin is commonly prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, though its usage is burdened by contraindications such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic renal insufficiency. ln accordance to this problem, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni contains stevioside which is a potent bioactive compound to treat diabetes and has been suggested to benefit glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory potentials of stevioside on 3 T3-Ll adipocyte differentiation and lipid production. The methods used in this study include cell culture, cell differentiation, treatment with stevioside, Oil Red-0 (ORO) staining and statistical analysis. The results showcased a significant difference, proving that stevioside possibly might possess the capability to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. As a conclusion, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni might prove to play a vital role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in the near future as this study has proven its potential to inhibit adipocyte differentiation.