Fig 1: MPE and MSE down-regulate the expression of adipogenic differentiation and lipid accumulation markers in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were treated with pro-differentiative agents for 8 days in the presence or absence of 100 µg/mL MPE or MSE, as reported in Methods. Then, cell lysates were analysed by Western blotting using specific primary antibodies directed against PPAR?, FABP4/aP2, GLUT4, Adipsin and SREBP1-c. Equal loading of proteins was verified by immunoblotting for ß-actin and showed values were assigned in relation to undifferentiated cells (Undif.). The bar graphs represent the mean of three independent experiments ± SD. ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001 with respect to undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells (Undif). # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01 and ### p < 0.001 with respect to the differentiated untreated 3T3-L1 cells (Dif.).