<p>Radix Polygoni Multiflori and Its Main Component Emodin Attenuate Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Zebrafish by Regulation of AMPK Signaling Pathway</p>

Abstract

Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a predictor of death in many diseases. This study was carried out to investigate the therapeutic effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori Preparata (RPMP) and its main component emodin on egg yolk powderinduced NAFLD in zebrafish. Further investigation was performed to explore whether emodin was the main component of RPMP for the treatment of NAFLD as well as the underlying therapeutic mechanism of RPMP and emodin. Methods: Zebrafish were divided into control group, egg yolk powder group, RPMP group and emodin group. The obesity of zebrafish was evaluated by body weight, body length and BMI. The content of lipid was detected by triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) reagent kit and the fatty acid was detected by nonesterified free fatty acids (NEFA) reagent kit. HE staining was used to detect the histological structure of liver. Whole-mount Oil red O staining and Frozen oil red O staining were carried out to investigate the lipid accumulation in liver. KEGG and STRING databases were performed to analyze the potential role of AMPK between insulin resistance (IR) and fatty acid oxidation. Western blot and RT-qPCR were carried out for mechanism research. Results: RPMP and emodin significantly reduced zebrafish weight, body length and BMI. Both RPMP and emodin treatment could reduce the lipid deposition in zebrafish liver. RPMP significantly reduced the content of TG. However, emodin significantly reduced the contents of TG, TC and NEFA in zebrafish with NAFLD. The protein interaction network indicated that AMPK participated in both IR and fatty acid oxidation. Further investigation indicated that RPMP and emodin reduced hepatic lipogenesis via up-regulating the expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT2), amp-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα), proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a (CPT-1a) and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1). Conclusion: These findings suggest that emodin is the main component of RPMP for the treatment of NAFLD, which is closely related to the regulation of AMPK signaling pathway which increases IR and fatty acid oxidation.

POCU1b, the n-Butanol Soluble Fraction of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Attenuates Obesity, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver, and Insulin Resistance via Inhibitions of Pancreatic Lipase, cAMP-Dependent PDE Activity, AMPK Activation, and SOCS-3 Suppression

“…Resveratrol reduced hepatic accumulation of lipids and improved lipid and glycemic metabolism via signaling pathways of AMPK, sirtin 1, and NF-κB [42]. Emodin significantly reduced the lipid deposition in zebrafish livers by regulation of the AMPK signaling pathway, leading to attenuate NAFLD [43]. POCU1b 1.0 increased the adiponectin level, AMPK, p-AMPK, and p-ACC protein levels, as well as CPT-1 activity, and decreased FAS mRNA expression in the liver (Figures 7a and 8a−d), preventing the progression of NAFL (Figure 6a−d).…”

Progress on the Study of the Anti-Tumor Effect of Emodin

“…Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone, Figure 1), has been identified in Polygonum multiflorum, Cassia obtusifolia, Aloe, Rhubarb, and Polygonum cuspidatum [10] [11] [12] [13] [14], and is believed to have a variety of pharmacological effects. Emodin has a variety of biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive and antiviral [7] [15] [16] [18]. Studies have shown that emodin has a significant therapeutic effect on lung cancer [19], liver cancer [20], cervical cancer [21], breast cancer [22], colon cancer [23], and so on.…”

Revive Herbal Capsule: A Review on the Mechanism of Action, Constituent Herbs and Phytochemicals

“…iIt ialso possesses ihypolipidaemic iactivity, iand iused ito itreat ianaemia iand iweakness iof ithe ilumbar [9]. iSome idrugs i(containing iRadix iPolygonum multiflorum) icommonly iused iin iChina ito itreat ifatty iliver iand ihyperlipidaemia ihave obtained iapproval iby ithe iChinese iFood iand iDrug iAdministration; ithis iis ibecause iRadix Polygonum imultiflorum igives ivitality ito ithe iliver iand ikidneys i [40]. I The imajor iactive iingredients iof iRadix iPolygonum imultiflorum iare iflavonoids, ianthraquinones, iphospholipids, iphenols, iand istilbenes; istilbene iglycosides, iemodin iand iphyscion iare isaid ito ibe ithe imajor iingredients iwith ihypolipidaemic iproperty i [41].…”