The Efficacy of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Extract in Anti-obesity Therapy

• Published in: Records of natural products Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 116 - 128
• Main Authors: Kim, Yoon Hee, Kim, So Mi, Lee, Jae Kyoung, Jo, Sung Kwan, Kim, Hyung Joong, Cha, Kyu Min, Lim, Cho Young, Moon, Joo Myung, Kim, Tae Young, Kim, Eun Ji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gebze ACG Publications 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Gene expression; Glucose
• ISSN: 1307-6167; 1307-6167
• DOI: 10.25135/rnp.146.19.05.1270

In the present study, we investigated a saponin-enriched fraction from Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and isolated gypenoside L (GL), gypenoside LI (GLI), and ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3). To explore the anti-obesity activities of these compounds, we investigated the effects of GL, GLI, and Rg3 on glucose uptake and activation of AMPK in L6 skeletal muscle cells. GPE, GL, GLI, and Rg3 markedly increased glucose uptake activity and GLUT4 gene expression in L6 myotubes. The enhanced glucose uptake was mediated by the activation of the AMPK-ACC signaling pathway. In addition, we observed that GPE, GL, GLI, and Rg3 increased the expression of SIRT1 and PPARγ coacvtivator-1α (PGC-1α). Our results suggest the potential use of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in developing a therapeutic agent to reduce body weight and prevent diet-related diseases via glucose uptake and AMPK activation.