Peroxisome Proliferator‑Activated Receptor‑γ Agonistic Effect of Chrysanthemum indicum Capitulum and Its Active Ingredients

Objective: The capitulum of Chrysanthemum indicum (Compositae) is the source of a crude drug used in Japanese traditional Kampo and traditional Chinese medicine. Previous research showed that C. indicum flowers promote adipocyte differentiation through the activation of peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor (PPAR)‑γ that may be an important mechanism for controlling systemic insulin resistance or other biological functions. Materials and Methods: The capitulum of C. indicum was extracted with methanol, and its PPAR‑γ agonistic activity was measured using luciferase assay. The active ingredients were isolated by the activity‑guided fractionations. Results: We isolated (Z)‑tonghaosu and (E)‑tonghaosu, and (E)‑tonghaosu had PPAR‑γ agonistic constituents by the activity‑guided fractionation from the capitulum of C. indicum. The isomer (Z)‑tonghaosu did not show PPAR‑γ‑agonistic activity. Conclusion: (E)‑tonghaosu is one of the active ingredients as PPAR‑γ agonist in the capitulum of C. indicum.