alnustone

Alnustone is a naturally occurring diarylheptanoid compound primarily isolated from plants in the Alnus and Curcuma genera, such as Alnus pendula and Curcuma xanthorrhiza. It is being investigated for its potential therapeutic applications in metabolic and reproductive disorders, specifically obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Mechanistically, alnustone acts by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in adipose tissue. This activation promotes energy expenditure by stimulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and inducing the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). Preclinical studies in mouse models have demonstrated that alnustone administration can effectively reduce body weight gain, attenuate adipocyte hypertrophy, improve insulin resistance, and reverse reproductive dysfunctions such as hyperandrogenism and estrous cycle irregularities.

Other names

(E,E)-1,7-diphenyl-1,3-heptadien-5-one(1E,3E)-1,7-diphenylhepta-1,3-dien-5-one