Aronia melanocarpa Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Lipid Metabolism through PPARγ2 Downregulation

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Studies have demonstrated that anthocyanin-rich foods may improve hyperlipidemia and ameliorate hepatic steatosis. Here, effects of Aronia melanocarpa (AM), known to be rich of anthocyanins, on hepatic lipid metabolism and adipogenic genes were determined. AM was treated to C57BL/6N mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) or to FL83B cells treated with free fatty acid (FFA). Changes in levels of lipids, enzymes and hormones were observed, and expressions of adipogenic genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism were detected by PCR, Western blotting and luciferase assay. In mice, AM significantly reduced the body and liver weight, lipid accumulation in the liver, and levels of biochemical markers such as fatty acid synthase, hepatic triglyceride and leptin. Serum transaminases, indicators for hepatocyte injury, were also suppressed, while superoxide dismutase activity and liver antioxidant capacity were significantly increased. In FL83B cells, AM significantly reduced FFA-induced lipid droplet accumulation. Protein synthesis of an adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2) was inhibited in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptional activity of PPARγ2 was down-regulated in vitro, and mRNA expression of PPARγ2 and its downstream target genes, adipocyte protein 2 and lipoprotein lipase were down-regulated by AM both in vitro and in vivo. These results show beneficial effects of AM against hepatic lipid accumulation through the inhibition of PPARγ2 expression along with improvements in body weight, liver functions, lipid profiles and antioxidant capacity suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of AM on NAFLD.

Standardized Aronia melanocarpa Extract as Novel Supplement against Metabolic Syndrome: A Rat Model

“…Ability of anthocyanins in Aronia to diminish liver steatosis induced by MetS was documented before, so we may hypothesize that these bioactive compounds are responsible for the beneficial effects in our study [43,44]. Some results show beneficial effects of A. melanocarpa against hepatic lipid accumulation through the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2) expression along with improvements in body weight, liver functions, lipid profiles and antioxidant capacity suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of A. melanocarpa on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [45]. Recently, it was showed clearly an increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase activity and disruption of lipid metabolism in patients with MetS.…”

Select Polyphenol-Rich Berry Consumption to Defer or Deter Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Complications

“…Following hypertension, inflammation is another diabetes complication and numerous studies have cited the anti-inflammatory potential of BCB or its juice consumption. Increased PPAR-γ2 expression was attenuated by BCBEs, reducing downstream lipid metabolizing PPAR-γ2 target expression such as PGE receptor and LPL, decreasing intracellular lipid droplet accumulation [ 184 ]. Regular BCBJ consumption improved chronic inflammatory conditions, lowering IFN-γ and TNF-α levels [ 195 , 196 , 198 ].…”

Obesity-associated Pathways of Anthocyanins

“…It was seen that this decrease in the level of fatty acids can help to prevent the inflammation in the body (Sato et al, 2015). It has been mentioned that diet with 10% and 20% of adzuki nuclei and Aronia melanocarpa extract containing a high level of anthocyanin, led to regulation of hepatic triglyceride and serum contents in C57BL/6 rats fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks (Kim et al, 2016;Park et al, 2017).…”

“…At the end of the observation period, fat tissue ratio and weight gain, blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decreased compared to the control group fed with black carrot extracts, black carrot fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and black carrot fermented with Aspergillus oryzae. It has been mentioned that AMPK (pAMPK) and Acetyl CoA carboxylase are responsible for the positive changes (Park et al, 2017). Some proteins in the mitochondria present in the fat tissues are responsible for the thermogenesis.…”