Ethanol extract of Cirsium japonicum attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation via AMPK activation in human HepG2 cells

Wan,Yun; Liu,Li‑Ya; Hong,Zhen‑Feng; Peng,Jun

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.1698

Ethanol extract of Cirsium japonicum attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation via AMPK activation in human HepG2 cells

Authors:
- Yun Wan
- Li‑Ya Liu
- Zhen‑Feng Hong
- Jun Peng
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Affiliations: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China
Published online on: April 25, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1698
Pages: 79-84

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Abstract

One of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is strongly associated with obesity and dysregulated insulin action in the liver. However, there are no pharmacological agents currently established for the treatment of NAFLD. A flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, Cirsium japonicum (CJ), exhibits a variety of pharmacological and antioxidative properties that promote hepatoprotection. In the present study, CJ ethanol extract was shown to reduce hepatic triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol accumulation. CJ significantly increased AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in HepG2 hepatocytes and downregulated the level of the target genes, acetyl‑CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase. In addition, CJ upregulated the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase‑1, which is involved in fatty acid oxidation. The results of the present study indicated that the positive effects of CJ extract on high‑fat diet‑induced hepatic TG accumulation were mediated via the AMPK signaling pathway, indicating a potential target for the preventative treatment of NAFLD.

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