Title:Hepatic AMP Kinase as a Potential Target for Treating Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Evidence from Studies of Natural Products
Volume: 25
Issue: 8
Author(s): Gang Xu, Kaixun Huang and Jun Zhou*
Affiliation:
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074,China
Keywords:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, AMP kinase, natural products, lipid metabolism, alkaloids, polyphenols,
antioxidant, anti-inflammation.
Abstract: Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common
chronic liver disease, is the leading cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis and has consistently
been implicated in related metabolic disorders, such as dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes
(T2D). However, the pathogenesis of NAFLD remains to be elucidated, and no established
therapeutic regimens for treating NAFLD exist. Adenosine monophosphate
(AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the main cellular energy sensor, has been implicated
as a key regulator of hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism. Recently, emerging
evidence indicates that many plant-derived natural products are capable of ameliorating
NAFLD by targeting AMPK.
Methods: The published literature in PubMed relating to this topic was searched through
June 2016.
Results: Significant advances have been made with respect to understanding the protective
effects of plant-derived natural products against NAFLD. A variety of natural products,
including alkaloids (berberine, demethyleneberberine, nicotine, caffeine, etc.), polyphenols
(resveratrol, puerarin, curcumin, caffeic acid, etc.) and other compounds (β-
caryophyllene, gastrodin, compound K, betulinic acid, etc.), have demonstrated promising
results in preclinical studies. Mechanistic studies of these compounds have focused
on their activation of AMPK and its downstream effectors involved in lipid metabolism.
Conclusion: The findings of this review confirm that plant-derived natural products capable
of activating the AMPK signaling pathway are potential therapeutic agents for
NAFLD.
