Bitter melon extract attenuating hepatic steatosis may be mediated by FGF21 and AMPK/Sirt1 signaling in mice

Sci Rep. 2013 Nov 5:3:3142. doi: 10.1038/srep03142.

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon, BM) extract on insulin sensitivity, NAFLD, hepatic FGF21 and AMPK signaling in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male C57/B6 mice were randomly divided into HFD and HFD supplementation with BM for 12 week. Body weight, plasma glucose, FGF21 and insulin levels, hepatic FGF21 and AMPK signaling proteins were measured. The results showed that plasma FGF21 and insulin concentrations were significantly decreased and hepatic FGF21 content was significantly down-regulated, while FGF receptors 1, 3 and 4 (FGFR1, FGFR3 and FGFR4) were greatly up-regulated in BM group compared to the HFD group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). BM also significantly increased hepatic AMPK p, AMPK α1 AMPK α2 and Sirt1 content compared to the HFD mice. We, for the first time, demonstrated that BM extract attenuated hepatic steatosis in mice by enhancing hepatic FGF21 and AMPK/Sirt1 signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / blood
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Fruit / metabolism
  • Insulin / blood
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Momordica charantia / chemistry
  • Momordica charantia / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Sirtuin 1 / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Plant Extracts
  • fibroblast growth factor 21
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Sirt1 protein, mouse
  • Sirtuin 1