The Efficacy of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Extract in Anti-obesity Therapy

Abstract

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.

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in C57BL/6N Mice by Upregulating SIRT1

“…Total extract or total saponins of G. pentaphyllum have been reported to have diverse effects downstream of AMPK activation [24]. In our previous in vitro study, GPE and gypenoside L, gypenoside LI, and ginsenoside Rg3 were found to activate AMPK [36]. The present study confirmed that GPE treatment activates AMPK in HFD-induced obese C57BL/6N mice.…”

“…GPE was prepared at BTC Corporation according to a previously described method [36]. In brief, the leaves of G. pentaphyllum were dried using an electric heat controller (i.e., electric fan).…”

“…Therefore, G. pentaphyllum is expected to be safe for use as a chemotherapeutic agent. Recently, we developed a G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) with much higher contents of gypenoside L (1.8%, w/w), gypenoside LI (1.4%, w/w), and ginsenoside Rg3 (0.15%, w/w) than extracts produced by conventional methods [36]. In an in vitro study using L6 skeletal muscle cells, we found that GPE stimulated glucose uptake via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) [36].…”

Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract and Gypenoside L enhance skeletal muscle differentiation and mitochondrial metabolism by activating the PGC-1α pathway in C2C12 myotubes

“…G. pentaphyllum was purchased from Hunan Tea Group Co., Ltd (Changsha, Hunan, China), and a voucher specimen (20210301-1) was identified by Professor Zhou Ribao, College of Medicine, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The GPE and GL were prepared at BTC Corporation, according to a previously described method [ 34 ]. In brief, 1 kg of dried G. pentaphyllum leaves were extracted with a hot water (20 L) and 50% EtOH aqueous solution (15 L).…”

“…Previously, we demonstrated the anti-obesity effect of G. pentaphyllum extract (GPE) and gypenoside L (GL), a saponin isolated from G. pentaphyllum. Both GPE and GL boosted glucose uptake and GLUT4 expression via activation of the AMPK-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) signaling pathway and promoted mRNA expression of Ppargc1a in skeletal muscle cells [ 34 ]. However, whether GPE and GL regulate the mitochondrial biogenic pathway via PGC-1α expression in C2C12 myotubes remains unclear.…”