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Heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract improves obesity in ob/ob mice by activating AMP-activated protein kinase

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Abstract

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is widely used in Asian countries as a herbal medicine to treat dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and inflammation. An ethanol extract of G. pentaphyllum lessened obesity by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The levels of damulins A and B, components responsible for AMPK activation in the extract, were increased by autoclaving in a time-dependent manner. Heat-processed G. pentaphyllum extract, actiponin containing damulins A (0.93 %, w/w) and B (0.68 %, w/w), significantly stimulated fat oxidation and glucose uptake via AMPK activation in L6 myotube cells. Oral administration of actiponin to ob/ob mice for 8 weeks decreased body weight gain, liver weight, and blood cholesterol levels with AMPK activation in the soleus muscle. Our results demonstrate the beneficial effect of G. pentaphyllum on improving obesity and have elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant (PF06212-00) from the Plant Diversity Research Center of the 21st Century Frontier Research Program funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and by a grant (A111345) from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Rehman Gauhar, Si-Sung Jeong & Tae-Lin Huh

  2. TG Biotech Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Techno Building, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Lark Hwang, Ji-Eun Kim, Hebok Song, Dong Chan Park & Tae-Lin Huh

  3. College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Kyung-Sik Song

  4. BTC, Technology Development Center, Gyeonggi Technopark, Ansan, Gyeonggido, 426-901, Republic of Korea

    Tae Young Kim

  5. College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, 501-759, Republic of Korea

    Won Keun Oh

  6. Korea Basic Science Institute Daegu Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Tae-Lin Huh

  7. Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 700-721, Republic of Korea

    Tae-Lin Huh

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  1. Rehman Gauhar
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  2. Seung-Lark Hwang
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  7. Kyung-Sik Song
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  8. Tae Young Kim
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  9. Won Keun Oh
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  10. Tae-Lin Huh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tae-Lin Huh.

Additional information

Rehman Gauhar and Seung-Lark Hwang contributed equally to this study.

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Gauhar, R., Hwang, SL., Jeong, SS. et al. Heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract improves obesity in ob/ob mice by activating AMP-activated protein kinase. Biotechnol Lett 34, 1607–1616 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-0944-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-0944-1

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