Rhodiola crenulata extract regulates hepatic glycogen and lipid metabolism via activation of the AMPK pathway

Licochalcone A is a chalcone isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It showed anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties in mice with acute lung injuries and regulated lipid metabolism through the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hepatocytes. However, the effects of licochalcone A on reducing weight gain and improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are unclear. Thus, the present study investigated whether licochalcone A ameliorated weight loss and lipid metabolism in the liver of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFD to induce obesity and NAFLD, and then were injected intraperitoneally with licochalcone A. In another experiment, a fatty liver cell model was established by incubating HepG2 hepatocytes with oleic acid and treating the cells with licochalcone A to evaluate lipid metabolism. Our results demonstrated that HFD-induced obese mice treated with licochalcone A had decreased body weight as well as inguinal and epididymal adipose tissue weights compared with HFD-treated mice. Licochalcone A also ameliorated hepatocyte steatosis and decreased liver tissue weight and lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissue. We also found that licochalcone A significantly regulated serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and free fatty acids, and decreased the fasting blood glucose value. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro, licochalcone A significantly decreased expression of the transcription factor of lipogenesis and fatty acid synthase. Licochalcone A activated the sirt-1/AMPK pathway to reduce fatty acid chain synthesis and increased lipolysis and β-oxidation in hepatocytes. Licochalcone A can potentially ameliorate obesity and NAFLD in mice via activation of the sirt1/AMPK pathway.

Download Full-text

Coenzyme Q10 attenuates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through activation of the AMPK pathway

Food & Function ◽

10.1039/c8fo01236a ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 814-823 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Ke Chen ◽

Xu Chen ◽

Hongliang Xue ◽

Peiwen Zhang ◽

Wanjun Fang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Coenzyme Q10 ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

High Fat ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Ampk Pathway ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Coenzyme Q10 regulates lipid metabolism to ameliorate the progression of NAFLD by activating the AMPK pathway.

Download Full-text

Effect of Curcumin on Growth Performance, Inflammation, Insulin level, and Lipid Metabolism in Weaned Piglets with IUGR

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9121098 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1098 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yu Niu ◽

Jintian He ◽

Yongwei Zhao ◽

Mingming Shen ◽

Lili Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Slow Growth ◽

Hepatic Glycogen ◽

Lipid Levels ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Hepatic Lipid ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

The possible causes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) might stem from placental insufficiency, maternal malnutrition, inflammation in utero, and other causes. IUGR has had an adverse influence on human health and animal production. Forty weaned piglets with normal birth weights (NBWs) or IUGR were randomly divided into four treatments groups: NBW, NC (NBW with curcumin supplementation), IUGR, and IC (IUGR with curcumin supplementation) from 26 to 50 d. Levels of cytokines, glucose, and lipid metabolism were evaluated. IUGR piglets showed slow growth during the experiment. Piglets with IUGR showed higher levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Curcumin supplementation reduced the production of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, attenuated insulin resistance and hepatic triglyceride, and enhanced the hepatic glycogen concentrations and lipase activities of IUGR piglets. The hepatic mRNA expressions of the insulin-signaling pathway and lipogenic pathway were influenced by IUGR and were positively attenuated by diets supplemented with curcumin. In conclusion, IUGR caused slow growth, insulin resistance, and increased hepatic lipid levels. Diets supplemented with curcumin improved growth, attenuated insulin resistance, and reduced lipid levels in the liver by regulating the hepatic gene expressions of the related signaling pathway in IUGR piglets.

Download Full-text

Quercetin Improves Glucose and Lipid Metabolism of Diabetic Rats: Involvement of Akt Signaling and SIRT1

Journal of Diabetes Research ◽

10.1155/2017/3417306 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Jing Peng ◽

Qingde Li ◽

Keye Li ◽

Li Zhu ◽

Xiaoding Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Akt Signaling ◽

Hepatic Glycogen ◽

High Dose ◽

Lipid Metabolism Disorder ◽

Metabolism Disorder ◽

Glucose And Lipid Metabolism ◽

Quercetin Treatment

Glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in diabetes mellitus often causes damage to multiple tissues and organs. Diabetes mellitus is beneficially affected by quercetin. However, its concrete mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. In our study, diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by STZ injection. The rats were randomly divided into normal control, diabetic model, low-dose quercetin treatment, high-dose quercetin treatment, and pioglitazone treatment groups. Fasting blood glucose was collected to evaluate diabetes. Immunohistochemistry and fluorometric assay were performed to explore SIRT1. Akt levels were measured through immunoprecipitation and Western blot. After 12 weeks of quercetin treatment, the biochemical parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism improved to varying degrees. Hepatic histomorphological injury was alleviated, and hepatic glycogen content was increased. The expression and activity of hepatic SIRT1 were enhanced, and Akt was activated by phosphorylation and deacetylation. These results suggested that the beneficial effects of quercetin on glucose and lipid metabolism disorder are probably associated with the upregulated activity and protein level of SIRT1 and its influence on Akt signaling pathway. Hence, quercetin shows potential for the treatment of glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in diabetes mellitus.

Download Full-text