title: Piperonal prevents high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice via activation of adiponectin/AMPK pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Piperonal is an important flavor additive with antibacterial and anxiolytic properties. We investigated the effects and possible mechanisms of piperonal protection against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 J mice were fed with a normal diet (ND; based on the AIN-76 rodent diet), HFD (20% fat and 1% cholesterol), or piperonal-supplemented diet (POD; HFD supplemented with 0.05% piperonal) for 10 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Piperonal supplementation reduced hepatic lipid concentrations, liver dysfunction and plasma levels of insulin and glucose in HFD-fed mice. Piperonal significantly enhanced mRNA expression and secretion of adiponectin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Dietary piperonal significantly increased circulating adiponectin levels and hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HFD-fed mice; these were associated with the suppression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c and activation of glucose transporter-2 translocation in the livers. Piperonal also significantly reduced the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers in the livers of HFD-fed mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Piperonal may activate the adiponectin/AMPK pathway in the livers of mice. The activated adiponectin/AMPK axis may inhibit p70S6 kinase signaling and the ER stress response, with protective effects on hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001547:Benzaldehydes; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C005454:piperonal