title: Gentiopicroside and sweroside from Veratrilla baillonii Franch. induce phosphorylation of Akt and suppress Pck1 expression in hepatoma cells.
abstract: The use of phytochemicals and herbal medicines has accompanied human history. Advances in modern biomedical sciences have allowed us to investigate the functional mechanisms of herbal medicines and phytochemicals. Veratrilla baillonii Franch. has long been used as a medicinal herb in southwestern China. Here, we analyzed the effects of an ethanol extract from V. baillonii (VBFE) on the expression levels of the cytosolic form of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene (Pck1) mRNA and components of the insulin signalling cascade in HL1C hepatoma cells. Compared with the insulin control, VBFE treatment inhibited the expression of Pck1 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. This was associated with the phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 in a time-dependent manner. Further analysis of the purified components of VBFE indicated that gentiopicroside and sweroside from VBFE, alone and in combination, suppressed Pck1 expression and induced Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, gentiopicroside and sweroside suppress Pck1 expression and induce phosphorylation of components in the insulin signalling cascade. This is the first study to demonstrate that gentiopicroside and sweroside show insulin-mimicking effects on the regulation of Pck1 expression. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential of gentiopicroside and sweroside in the control of blood glucose in animals.
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xian-Ju
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: b Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, 229 Jessie Harris Building, 1215 West Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Guoxun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000070677:Gentianales / Q000737:chemistry*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C012997:gentiopicroside; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; C582554:Pck1 protein, rat; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP); C049412:sweroside
keywords: Veratrilla baillonii Franch.; diabetes; diabète; gentiopicroside; sweroside