Puerarin ameliorates hepatic steatosis by activating the PPARα and AMPK signaling pathways in hepatocytes.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Steatohepatitis plays a critical role in the process resulting in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Puerarin is a herbal product widely used in Asia, and is believed to have therapeutic benefits for alleviating the symptoms of steatohepatitis. The present study was designed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of puerarin in reducing lipid accumulation in oleic acid (OA)-treated HepG2 cells. Hepatocytes were treated with OA with or without puerarin to observe lipid accumulation by Oil Red O staining. We also examined hepatic lipid contents (e.g., triacylglycerol and cholesterol) following treatment with puerarin. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1, fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Our results revealed that puerarin suppressed OA-induced lipid accumulation, and reduced the triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, puerarin decreased the expression levels of lipogenic enzymes, such as FAS and SREBPs, and increased the expression levels of PPARα, which are critical regulators of hepatic lipid metabolism through the AMPK signaling pathway. These results indicate that puerarin has the same ability to activate AMPK, and reduce SREBP-1 and FAS expression, thus inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis and increasing hepatic antioxidant activity. We found that puerarin exerted a regulatory effect on lipid accumulation by decreasing lipogenesis in hepatocytes. Therefore, puerarin extract may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of fatty liver and lipid-related metabolic disorders.

Quercetin protects the hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis via inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells.

Quercetin possesses a broad range of pharmacological properties, including protection of LDL from oxidation. However, little is known about the mechanism by which quercetin rescues cardiomyoblasts from oxidative damage. This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanism of quercetin on H(2)O(2)-induced toxicity of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. Oxidative stress, such as H(2)O(2), ZnCl(2), and menadione, significantly decreased the viability of H9c2 cells, which was accompanied with apparent apoptotic features, including fragmentation of genomic DNA as well as activation of caspase protease. However, quercetin markedly inhibited the apoptotic characteristics via reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. Also, it prevented the H(2)O(2)-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, including disruption of mitochondria membrane permeability transition as well as an increase in expression of apoptogenic Bcl-2 proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L). Furthermore, pretreatment of quercetin inhibited the activation of caspase-3, thereby both cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and degradation of inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase/DNA fragmentation factor by H(2)O(2) were completely abolished. Taken together, these data suggest that protective effects of quercetin against oxidative injuries of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts may be achieved via modulation of mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of caspase activity.