Vigna species are important food resources and are traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of Vigna nakashimae (VN) extract on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and elucidated the molecular mechanisms. C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD with or without VN extract for 16 weeks. VN extract decreased HFD-induced body weight, liver weight, hepatic lipid accumulation, and plasma alanine aminotransferase, and suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation associated with hepatitis. VN extract decreased plasma lipid levels and the expression of lipogenic genes in the livers of HFD-fed mice. VN extract significantly increased phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and expression of fatty acid oxidation genes in the liver of VN-treated HFD mice and HepG2 cells. Further, VN extract inhibited insulin or glucose-stimulated lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, VN extract prevents HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and lipotoxicity through AMPK activation.
Keywords: AMP-activated protein kinase; Vigna nakashimae; hepatic lipogenesis; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c.