Hypolipidemic activity of Taraxacum mongolicum associated with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in human HepG2 cells

Food Funct. 2014 Aug;5(8):1755-62. doi: 10.1039/c4fo00183d.

Abstract

This study investigated the hypolipidemic effect and potential mechanisms of T. mongolicum extracts. T. mongolicum was extracted by refluxing three times with water (TM-1), 50% ethanol (TM-2) and 95% ethanol (TM-3). TM-2 contained components with the most effective hypolipidemic potentials in HepG2 cells. Extended administration of TM-2 stimulated a significant reduction in body weight and levels of serum triglyceride LDL-C and total cholesterol in rats. To evaluate the bioactive compounds, we successively fractionated TM-2 with n-hexane (TM-4), dichloromethane (TM-5), ethyl acetate (TM-6), and water (TM-7). TM-4 fraction had the most effective hypolipidemic potential in HepG2 cells, and it decreased the expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and inhibited the activity of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) through the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Linoleic acid, phytol and tetracosanol are bioactive compounds identified from TM-4. These results suggest that T. mongolicum is expected to be useful for hypolipidemic effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Male
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Taraxacum / chemistry*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Triglycerides
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase