title: The herbal composition GGEx18 from Laminaria japonica, Rheum palmatum, and Ephedra sinica reduces obesity via skeletal muscle AMPK and PPARα.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in skeletal muscle of obese rodents stimulates fatty acid oxidation, it is reasonable to hypothesize that pharmacological activation of AMPK might be of therapeutic benefit in obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of the traditional Korean anti-obesity drug GGEx18, a mixture of three herbs, Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae), and Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), on obesity and the involvement of AMPK in this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  After high fat diet-induced obese mice were treated with GGEx18, we studied the effects of GGEx18 on body weight, fat mass, skeletal muscle lipid accumulation, and the expressions of AMPK, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ά (PPARα), and PPARα target genes. The effects of GGEx18 and/or the AMPK inhibitor compound C on lipid accumulation and expression of the above genes were measured in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of GGEx18 to obese mice for 9 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body and adipose tissue weights compared with obese control mice (p < 0.05). Lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle was inhibited by GGEx18. GGEx18 significantly (p < 0.05) increased skeletal muscle mRNA levels of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 as well as PPARα and its target genes. Consistent with the in vivo data, GGEx18 inhibited lipid accumulation, and similar activation of genes was observed in GGEx18-treated C2C12 cells. However, compound C inhibited these effects in C2C12 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that GGEx18 improves obesity through skeletal muscle AMPK and AMPK-stimulated expression of PPARα and its target enzymes for fatty acid oxidation.
authors: Department of Formula Sciences, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan 614-052.
authors: Soon Shik
authors: SS
authors: Shin
authors: Dongmin
authors: D
authors: Park
authors: Hee Young
authors: HY
authors: Lee
authors: Yeonhee
authors: Y
authors: Hong
authors: Jeonghyun
authors: J
authors: Choi
authors: Jaeho
authors: J
authors: Oh
authors: Hyunghee
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Hye Rim
authors: HR
authors: Lee
authors: Mi Ryeo
authors: MR
authors: Kim
authors: Zhi Bin
authors: ZB
authors: Shen
authors: Hong Hua
authors: HH
authors: Cui
authors: Michung
authors: M
authors: Yoon
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D029790:Ephedra sinica; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007795:Laminaria; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012250:Rheum; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D047493:PPAR alpha; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C548755:gyeongshingangjeehwan; C516138:dorsomorphin; C548179:Prkaa1 protein, mouse; C534978:Prkaa2 protein, mouse; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases