Anthocyanins have been shown to prevent obesity and to ameliorate hyperglycemia in animal studies. In this study, induction of preadipocytes in the presence of anthocyanins (1-40μg/ml), 3T3-L1 preadipocytes reduced accumulation of cytoplasmic triglycerides by dose- and time-dependent manner. This phenomenon was rapidly reversible. In addition, when applied to mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, anthocyanins induced a moderate reduction in cellular triglyceride content. mRNA and protein expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and liver X receptor α (LXRα), which act as key transcription factors of lipogenesis, as well as their target genes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase- 1(SCD-1)and acetyl CoA carboxylase-α (ACC-1) were markedly suppressed by anthocyanin treatment. Anthocyanins also decreased mRNA or protein expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), which act as key transcription factors of adipogenesis were moderately reduced by anthocyanin treatment. Collectively, this study suggests that the inhibitory effect of anthocyanins on lipogenesis might be mediated through down-regulation of lipogenic transcription factors as well as proteins related on lipid synthesis such as SCD-1, FAS and ACC-1. These results suggest that anthocyanins might be important functional compounds in the prevention of obesity.