A high carbohydrate-high fat (HCHF) diet causes insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Rice bran has been demonstrated to have anti-dyslipidemic and anti-atherogenic properties in an obese mouse model. In the present study, we investigated the beneficial effects of rice bran protein hydrolysates (RBP) in HCHF-induced MS rats. After 12 weeks on this diet, the HCHF-fed group was divided into four subgroups, which were orally administered RBP 100 or 500 mg/kg, pioglitazone 10 mg/kg, or tap water for a further 6 weeks. Compared with normal diet control group, the MS rats had elevated levels of blood glucose, lipid, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Treatment with RBP significantly alleviated all those changes and restored insulin sensitivity. Additionally, RBP treatment increased adiponectin and suppressed leptin levels. Expression of Ppar-γ mRNA in adipose tissues was significantly increased whereas expression of lipogenic genes Srebf1 and Fasn was significantly decreased. Levels of mRNA of proinflammatory cytokines, Il-6, Tnf-α, Nos-2 and Mcp-1 were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the present findings support the consumption of RBP as a functional food to improve insulin resistance and to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome.

Rice bran, which is a byproduct of rice milling process, contains various nutrients and biologically active compounds. Rice bran protein hydrolysates have various pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects. However, there are limited studies about the mechanisms of rice bran protein hydrolysates (RBP) on insulin resistance and lipid metabolism. RBP used in this study were prepared from Thai Jasmine rice. When HepG2 cells were treated with IL-6, the IRS-1 expression and Akt phosphorylation were suppressed. This effect of IL-6 was prevented by RBP in association with inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation and SOCS3 expression. RBP could increase the phospho-AMPK levels and inhibit IL-6- or high glucose-induced suppression of AMPK and Akt activation. High glucose-induced dysregulation of the expression of lipogenic genes, including SREBP-1c, FASN and CPT-1, was normalized by RBP treatment. Moreover, impaired glucose utilization in insulin resistant HepG2 cells was significantly alleviated by concurrent treatment with RBP. Our results suggested that RBP suppresses inflammatory cytokine signaling and activates AMPK, and thereby these effects may underlie the insulin sensitizing effect.

RBP attenuates the progression of diabetic nephropathy and restored renal function by suppressing the expression of proangiogenic and profibrotic proteins, inhibiting proinflammatory mediators, and restoring the antioxidant and cytoprotective system.

Eleven lignans (1-11) were isolated from the seed of Hernandia nymphaeifolia. Most of the lignans exhibited strong to moderate cytotoxicity against cholangiocarcinoma KKU-M156 and HepG2 cell lines. Compounds 4 and 8 showed cytotoxicity against the KKU-M156 cell line with IC50 values of 5.2 μ M (Emax 96%) and 5.4 (Emax 59%) μM, respectively. In the cases of cytotoxicity against the HepG2 cell line, compounds 2, 3, 4, and 8 showed cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 1.7 M (Emax 84%), 4.1 μM (Emax 74%), 4.5 μM (Emax 68%), and 5.2 μM (Emax 78%), respectively.