title: Akebia quinata extract exerts anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects in high-fat diet-fed mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dry ripe fruit of the Akebia quinata (A. quinata) plant is used as an analgesic, an antiphlogistic, and a diuretic in traditional medicine. A. quinata has also been used in Korea as a crude drug for treating obesity. The aim of the study was to determine the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of A. quinata extract (AQE) in mice consuming a high-fat diet and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured obesity-related physiological parameters, gene expression, and protein phosphorylation in mice consuming a high-fat diet supplemented with AQE (400mg/kg/day) for 6.5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AQE reduced gain in body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid levels in mice consuming a high-fat diet. AQE supplementation reduced expression of genes related to adipogenesis and increased expression of PPARα, acetyl-CoA oxidase, and adiponectin in the epididymal adipose tissue. Furthermore, AQE increased phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, both of which are related to fatty acid oxidation, in vivo. HPLC analysis revealed that AQE contained chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid C. AQE and all of these constituents inhibited differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and enhanced AMPK phosphorylation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the AQE exerted anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects in mice consuming a high-fat diet by regulating adipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation via AMPK activation.
authors.affiliation: Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yysung@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Yoon-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: KM Convergence Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dskim@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Seon
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Mibyeong Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hkkim@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: AMP-activated protein kinase; Adipogenesis; Adipose tissue; Akebia quinata; Fatty acid oxidation