ABSTRACT
Syringaresinol-4---d-glucoside (SSG), a furofuran-type lignan, was found to modulate lipid and glucose metabolism through an activity screen of lipid accumulation and glucose consumption, and was therefore considered as a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorder, especially in lipid and glucose metabolic homeostasis. In this study, the effects of SSG on lipogenesis and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells and C2C12 myotubes were further investigated. Treatment with SSG significantly inhibited lipid accumulation by oil red O staining and reduced the intracellular contents of total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride in HepG2 cells. No effect was observed on cell viability in the MTT assay at concentrations of 0.1-10 μmol/L. SSG also increased glucose consumption by HepG2 cells and glucose uptake by C2C12 myotubes. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the beneficial effects were associated with the down-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c, -2 (), fatty acid synthase (), acetyl CoA carboxylase () and hydroxyl methylglutaryl CoA reductase (), and up-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma (and). SSG also significantly elevated transcription activity oftested by luciferase assay. These results suggest that SSG is an effective regulator of lipogenesis and glucose consumption and might be a candidate for further research in the prevention and treatment of lipid and glucose metabolic diseases.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the gastrointestinal regulative effect of agarwood extracts produced by the whole-tree agar?wood-inducing technique(Agar-Wit agarwood)to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Methods Intestinal propelling effect assay marked by carbon powder,and gastric empting effect assay marked by methyl orange were used to evaluate the gastrointestinal effects of Agar-Wit agarwood on mice by single or constant repeated intragastric(ig)adminis?tration of water extract and ethanol extract,and then the index of intestinal peristaltic rate and methyl orange relative residual rate were calculated. Gastrtic ulcer model was established under water stress to appraise their protective function on rat stomach and to ob?tain the gastric ulcer index and inhibitory rate. Results The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract significantly improved intestinal peri?stalsis and gastric empting function by single or constant repeated ig administration at the dose of 150 mg/kg. The ethanol extract of commercial agarwood also had the similar effect at the dose of 450 mg/kg. But the water extract did not have significant effect. The gas? tric ulcer assay results showed that the ethanol extract significantly inhibited gastric ulcer happening by single ig administration. Addi?tionally,constant repeated ig administration of ethanol extract showed the consistent results and the gastric ulcer inhibitory rate was (73.1±5.6)%at the dose of 300 mg/kg. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extracts have significant intestinal peristaltic ef?fect,gastric empting effect and gastric ulcer inhibitory function.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the sedative-hypnotic effect of agarwood different extracts produced by whole-tree agar?wood-inducing technique(Agar-Wit agarwood)to make scientific basis for the Agar-Wit agarwood exploration and usage in clinic. Method Collaborative pentobarbital sodium hypnosis experiment was employed to assess the index of fell asleep rate ,sleep latency time and sleep time. And locomotor activity assay was used to test the index of moved distance,travel time and average velocity. Then a functional comparison was made between Agar-Wit agarwood and commereial agarwood. Result The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol ex?tract and essential oil could significantly increase sleep rate and prolong sleep time. At the same time ,essential oil could also decrease sleep latency time significantly. Additionally,both ethanol extract and oil significantly decreased the mice locomotor activity,includ?ing reduced total distance,movement,move time and average velocity. However,the water extract did not have significant effect. Conclusion The Agar-Wit agarwood ethanol extract and oil have significant effect on sedation in mice,whose function is similar to,or even better than that of the commerical agarwood.