title: Purple sweet potato anthocyanins attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation through activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in human HepG2 cells and obese mice.
abstract: Purple sweet potato is a functional food rich in anthocyanins that possess disease-preventive properties. Anthocyanins are known to possess potent antidiabetic properties. However, the effect of the anthocyanin fraction (AF) from purple sweet potato on hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. Our hypothesis is that AF inhibits hepatic lipid accumulation through the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we evaluated body weight, liver histology, and hepatic lipid content in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed ICR mice treated with AF. In addition, we characterized the underlying mechanism of AF's effects in HepG2 hepatocytes through Western blot analysis. Anthocyanin fraction (200 mg/kg per day) reduced weight gain and hepatic triglyceride accumulation and improved serum lipid parameters in mice fed an HFD for 4 weeks. Anthocyanin fraction significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) in the liver and HepG2 hepatocytes. In addition, AF down-regulated the levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and its target genes including ACC and fatty acid synthase (FAS). The specific AMPK inhibitor compound C attenuated the effects of AF on the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins such as SREBP-1 and FAS in HepG2 hepatocytes. The beneficial effects of AF on HFD-induced hepatic lipid accumulation are thus mediated through AMPK signaling pathways, suggesting a potential target for the prevention of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Pil
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hyung Gyun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Hyang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Kyung Ok
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kwang-Il
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tae Cheon
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hye Gwang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055951:Functional Food; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D027723:Ipomoea batatas / Q000737:chemistry*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035281:Plant Tubers; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D000103:Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase