Antcin K, a Triterpenoid Compound from Antrodia camphorata, Displays Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects via Glucose Transporter 4 and AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation in Muscles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to screen firstly the potential effects of antcin K (AnK), the main constituent of the fruiting body of Antrodia camphorata, in vitro and further evaluate the activities and mechanisms in high-fat-diet- (HFD-) induced mice. Following 8-week HFD-induction, mice were treated with AnK, fenofibrate (Feno), metformin (Metf), or vehicle for 4 weeks afterward. In C2C12 myotube cells, the membrane GLUT4 and phospho-Akt expressions were higher in insulin and AnK-treated groups than in the control group. It was observed that AnK-treated mice significantly lowered blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and leptin levels in AnK-treated groups. Of interest, AnK at 40 mg/kg/day dosage displayed both antihyperglycemic effect comparable to Metf (300 mg/kg/day) and antihypertriglyceridemic effect comparable to Feno (250 mg/kg/day). The combination of significantly increased skeletal muscular membrane expression levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) but decreased hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6 Pase) mRNA levels by AnK thus contributed to a decrease in blood glucose levels. Furthermore, AnK enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (phospho-AMPK) expressions in the muscle and liver. Moreover, AnK treatment exhibited inhibition of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) but enhancement of fatty acid oxidation peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) expression coincident with reduced sterol response element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) mRNA levels in the liver may contribute to decreased plasma triglycerides, hepatic steatosis, and total cholesterol levels. The present findings indicate that AnK displays an advantageous therapeutic potential for the management of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

Improving insulin resistance with Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium powder to induce a hypoglycemic effect in dexamethasone‑induced insulin‑resistant rats

“…Previous research has confirmed the hypolipidemic effect of AC (17,20,31,32), supporting the results of the present study that indicated a decrease in plasma FFA levels. To establish the SIIR animal model, steroids were administered, causing an increase in plasma FFA levels and the development of insulin resistance (11,25).…”

“…With respect to signal transduction proteins, AC caused an increase in IRS-1, PI3K and GLUT-4. Previous studies have indicated that AC stimulates AMPK to enhance GLUT-4 translocation and activates the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) to decrease plasma FFA levels, which may complement the insulin signaling pathway to result in a hypoglycemic effect and improvement in insulin resistance (18,20,32,34). In our previous studies, we also used the SIIR animal model to test the hypoglycemic effect of the Xylaria nigripes (Xn) fungus and the Gardenia jasminoides (GJ) plant (26,35).…”

Amelioration effects of nanoencapsulated triterpenoids from petri dish-cultured <em>Antrodia cinnamomea</em> on reproductive function of diabetic male rats

“…The current study showed that diabetic rats had a significant increase in fasting glucose and increase in the insulin level when matched with Con and Nano-PAC5-treated groups and had similarity with previous a report stating that Antcin K (a triterpenoid compound from A. camphorata) reduced the blood glucose and insulin level. 58 In addition, dehydroeburicoic acid 59 and eburicoic acid 24 (triterpenoid compound from A. camphorata) prevented diabetes by the regulation of GLUT4 and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in STZ-induced diabetic mice.…”

Biotransformation of Ergostane Triterpenoid Antcin K from Antrodia cinnamomea by Soil-Isolated Psychrobacillus sp. AK 1817

“…Due to the abundance of antcin K in wood-cultivated, as well as in dish-cultivated, A. cinnamomea, many bioactivities of antcin K have been found [3][4][5][6][7][8]. In contrast, few studies on antcamphin E and antcamphin F have been reported, due to their rarity.…”