AMP-activated protein kinase: a potential target for the diseases prevention by natural occurring polyphenols

Abstract

A reduced life span is an outcome associated with many prevalent diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. In seeking to prevent these diseases, many researchers have looked into potential therapeutic benefits of naturally occurring compounds. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major metabolic-sensing protein implicated in the prevention of metabolic disorders, or in minimizing the effects thereof, via the regulation of both upstream and downstream target molecules. In the field of food and nutrition, the current focus lies in the finding of components that activate AMPK. AMPK is a serine/threonine protein kinase and is activated by several natural compounds, including resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, berberine, and quercetin. AMPK activation can induce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) generation through pathways such as glycolysis and beta-oxidation. By contrast, ATP-consuming pathways, including fatty acid and cholesterol syntheses, and gluconeogenesis, are suppressed by AMPK activation. In this review, we will discuss how the activation of AMPK by naturally occurring compounds could help to prevent the development of numerous diseases; the potential mechanism underlying these effects will also be addressed.

Screening of Isoquinoline Alkaloids for Potent Lipid Metabolism Modulation withCaenorhabditis elegans

“…Many alkaloids have been reported to be mitochondrial inhibitors and might also be potent AMPK activators. 27) Activation of AMPK by berberine and sanguinarine might be the result of inhibition of ATP synthesis and an increase in the AMP level based on the finding that these alkaloids inhibited mitochondrial respiration. 21) Studies of cell lines that express AMPK complexes bearing an R531G mutation, which renders 2 complexes insensitive to increases in ADP and AMP, have indicated that berberine works by increasing cellular AMP or ADP.…”

Hypo-Cholesterolemic and Hypoglycemic Effects of Orange Albedo Powder (Citrus Aurantium L.) on Male Albino Rats

“…Well documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms regulated by Citrus flavonoids, such as increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and protecting the plasma vitamin E (37) may well attenuate overproduction of oxygen reactive species in the vascular wall thereby restoring the imbalanced endothelial function. Among the few mechanistic studies on hypoglycemic effects of flavonoids, it has been shown that naringenin, similarly to other polyphenols significantly increased AMP kinase (AMPK) activity and glucose uptake in muscle cells and liver (38,39). The hypoglycaemic activity of naringenin in vivo can be more complex and may depend on multilevel effects on lipid metabolism that lead to increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as shown in animal models of metabolic syndrome (40).…”

A Short Review of Some Medicinal Plants And Phytocompounds With Hypotensive And Hypoglycemic Activities

“…bark, Ficus religiosa root bark and Gymnema sylvestre, leaves and aerial part of Momordica charantia were the other hypoglycemic products. Alkyldisulfides from Allium cepa and Allium sativum bulbs, hypoglycins (aminopropylpropionic acid dervatives) from unripe fruits of Blighia sapidu, aminobutyric acid derivative from Emericella quadrilineata fruiting bodies and guanidine from Galega officinalis leaves were among the other anti-diabetic compounds cited [35][36][37].…”

“…Alkyl disulfides lack stability and hypoglycins are toxic, hence limiting their usefulness. Hypoglycemic polysaccharides may act within the intestinal tract to retard glucose absorption but they can also suppress blood glucose level when administered parenterally, suggesting a distinct sites of action [35][36][37].…”