Curcumin Attenuates Diet‐Induced Hepatic Steatosis by Activating AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase

Abstract

Curcumin is a well-known component of traditional turmeric (Curcuma longa), which has been reported to prevent obesity and diabetes. However, the effect of curcumin on hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of curcumin on hepatic steatosis in high-fat/cholesterol diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND), HFD or HFD with 0.15% curcumin (HFD+C) for 11 weeks. We found that curcumin significantly lowered the body-weight and adipose tissue weight of mice in the HFD+C group compared with the findings for the HFD group (p < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin in serum were decreased, and HFD-induced impairment of insulin sensitivity was improved by curcumin supplementation (p < 0.05). Curcumin protected against the development of hepatic steatosis by reducing hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, curcumin activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and elevated the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha. By contrast, curcumin suppressed the HFDmediated increases in sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase and cluster of differentiation 36 expression. Taken together, these findings indicate that curcumin attenuates HFD-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism via AMPK activation, suggesting its use as a therapeutic for hepatic steatosis.

Alteration of splice site selection in the LMNA gene and inhibition of progerin production via AMPK activation

“…Metabolic stresses that increase the rate of ATP consumption, such as muscle contraction, or inhibit the catabolic production of ATP, such as oxygen or glucose deprivation, have been well characterized as potent AMPK activators [40][41][42]. AMPK activating activity has also been demonstrated by antidiabetic drugs such as metformin, the adenosine monophosphate (AMP) analog 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), and by several plant-based compounds, including resveratrol, berberine, curcumin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate [43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

Curcumin inhibits hyperlipidemia and hepatic fat accumulation in high-fructose-fed male Wistar rats

“…A study reported that curcumin improves hypertriglyceridemia and insulin sensitivity through the suppression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (Li et al 2010). Studies in animal models have proved that curcumin effectively prevented high-fat diet induced obesity (Um et al 2013).…”

Herbal composition Gambigyeongsinhwan (4) from Curcuma longa, Alnus japonica, and Massa Medicata Fermentata inhibits lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and regulates obesity in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats

“…Of the herbal medicines widely used in Korea, Curcuma longa, Alnus japonica, and Massa Medicata Fermentata have also been reported to regulate hyperlipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed mice, obese type 2 diabetic mice, and malonyl-CoA decarboxylase-deficient mice (Paik et al, 2012;Zhao et al, 2012;Um et al, 2013). These effects resemble the documented effects of PPARα activation on lipid metabolism and obesity regulation.…”

“…Massa Medicata Fermentata is frequently used in combination with other herbs to exert pharmacological effects (Li, 2006). Moreover, individual three ingredients of GGH(4) regulate lipid metabolism and reduce hyperlipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis (Paik et al, 2012;Zhao et al, 2012;Um et al, 2013). These reports led us to hypothesize that GGH(4) would efficiently regulate adipocyte lipid accumulation and obesity.…”