Anti-Obesity Effect of Daidzein Derived from Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Extract via PPAR Pathway in MDI-Induced 3T3-L1 Cell Line
, Seung-Hwa Yang 2,†, Yeo-Jin Lee 2, Jeong Ho Sohn 3, Ki Sun Lee 3 and Hyun-Jae Shin 1,2,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI have carefully reviewed the paper titled "Anti-Obesity Effect of Daidzein Derived from Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Extract via Leptin-PPAR-FAS Pathway in MDI-Induced 3T3-L1 Cell line." Overall, the paper presents valuable research on the anti-obesity properties of P. erosus extract and daidzein. However, there are several key areas that require revision to enhance the quality and clarity of the manuscript for publication in Cosmetics Journal which will be found in the attached file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
We responded faithfully to the reviewer's comments and revised the paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this study, effects of daizein from P. erosus extract on alpha-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes are described. The results are interesting but the following points must be revised or explained.
2.7.1
This method is not enough for evaluation of intestinal alpha-glucosidase.
What is origin of alpha-glucosidase?
It is very important, because selectivity of a positive control acarbose is intestinal alpha-glucosidase. In addition, oligo sugar (maltose, sucrose, etc) is better to use as a substrate.
2.8.2. Cell viability assay
Cell viability is examined in normal condition for 48 h, but additionally it should be examined using a differentiation condition, with MDI for 3 days.
3.1. Extraction yield of P. erosus root extract.
Total yield of each fraction is about 41%. Rest 59%?
3.2
Table 1. Significant figures are too long. Round the values down.
Table 3. Significant figures are too long. Round the values down.
Figure 7.
(D) FAS protein: Statistical significance at 100 µg/mL?
In this study, effects on leptin is not examined, although related references are cited.
The evidence “via leptin-PPAR-FAS” is not enough.
The title also should be reconsider.
Author Response
We responded faithfully to the reviewer's comments and revised the paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe paper entitled 'Anti-Obesity Effect of Daidzein Derived from Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Extract via Leptin-PPAR-FAS Pathway in MDI-3 Induced 3T3-L1 Cell line’ is an extensive study of polyphenolic profile and activity of ethanolic extract from yam bean root.
However, some points need improvement.
1. In the abstract, it should be mentioned that the source material is the root of P. erosus.
2. The species is native to Mexico and Central America. The plant was introduced to other regions in the 17th century. Did the Authors mean that it grows in the wild in Asia? It should be clarified.
3. The expansion of the MDI abbreviation should be given in order (like on page 6).
4. The text contains spelling errors, typos, and missing spaces in lines 37, 48, 79.83, 212, 264.
5. Line 70: Full Latin name should be provided.
6. Information about the plant should be collected in one place. The authors should also provide all the synonyms and common names that they use interchangeably in the text. Not every reader (especially from parts of the world where this genre is not popular) knows what we are talking about.
7. Line 113: The micrometre should be written with a small m. Now it means micromolar concentration.
8. The sentence “To prepare the 70% EtOH extract for further processing, it was dissolved in 170 mL of 50% MeOH” is not clear. Lyophilised material dissolved in 50% EtOH does not result in 70%. Maybe it would be better “To prepare the freeze-dried extract for further……….”.
9. In my opinion, a separate section should be added to the M&M - "Total Flavonoid Content".
10. In what solvent were the HPLC samples prepared? Extracts (Line 195) and standards (lines 199-201).
11. Line 203: should be 40 instead of 401.
12. Lines 279-81: it is part of the template file.
13. Line 234: Somewhere in the text (introduction or discussion) should be provided information about the occurrence of rotenone in this species and its toxicity. E.g. in line 420.
14. Units should be given at the top of Table 2 (first row or heading).
15. The authors use mainly common (nonsystematic) names of the compounds. 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is the resorcylic acid.
16. Why are enzyme names capitalized on page 10? they are not at the beginning of sentences.
17. (Figure 5(A)) and others should be written in no double brackets, as (Figure 5A).
18. Line 415: mdi should be capitalized (MDI).
19. Line 427: insulin is wrong; it should be inulin. Then the following sentence is correct. It is a serious mistake. Both compounds are related to diabetes, but they have totally different structures and actions.
20. What about the other plant parts? Are the given effects demonstrated only by the root or also by other parts of the plant? Are there differences?
21. Discussion should be improved. Examples of daidzein or other isoflavones anti-obesity activity should be discussed. There are references to this theme.
Author Response
We responded faithfully to the reviewer's comments and revised the paper.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI have carefully reviewed the corrections performed on the manuscript entitled "Anti-Obesity Effect of Daidzein Derived from Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Extract via Leptin-PPAR-FAS Pathway in MDI-Induced 3T3-L1 Cell line." Overall, the paper presents major improvements that make it suitable for publication, however one last correction must be made, Jicama is not a source of insulin which is produce by beta cells in the pancreas, instead, jicama has proven to reduce insulin resistance due to its antioxidant activity, this issue must be corrected before publication. Thank you for your hard work.
Author Response
Reviewer_01
Q: I have carefully reviewed the corrections performed on the manuscript entitled "Anti-Obesity Effect of Daidzein Derived from Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. Extract via Leptin-PPAR-FAS Pathway in MDI-Induced 3T3-L1 Cell line." Overall, the paper presents major improvements that make it suitable for publication, however one last correction must be made, Jicama is not a source of insulin which is produce by beta cells in the pancreas, instead, jicama has proven to reduce insulin resistance due to its antioxidant activity, this issue must be corrected before publication. Thank you for your hard work.
A: We corrected the discussion as follows: P. erosus is not a source of insulin which is produced by beta cells in the pancreas, instead, P. erosus has proven to reduce insulin resistance due to its antioxidant activity [40, 43].
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This manuscript is well revised, but the following point is discussed.
Inhibition by Acarbose against the alpha-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is weaker than the enzyme from mammalian intestinal. How about does daizein? Equivalent to both enzyames? Authors should additionally discuss about this.
Author Response
Reviewer_02
Q: This manuscript is well revised, but the following point is discussed. Inhibition by Acarbose against the alpha-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is weaker than the enzyme from mammalian intestinal. How about does daizein? Equivalent to both enzymes? Authors should additionally discuss about this.
A: We added the following sentences in Discussion section: Inhibition by Acarbose against the alpha-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is weaker than the enzyme from mammalian intestinal [Martin et al., 1996]. We did not perform the effect of daizein on mammalian a-glucosidase. To validate the effectiveness of daizein compared to acarbose, the kinetic and docking studies would be done in the near future.
Anne E. Martin, Patricia A. Montgomery, Acarbose: An α-glucosidase inhibitor, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Volume 53, Issue 19, October 1996, Pages 2277–2290, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/53.19.2277
