Planta Med 2011; 77(17): 1876-1882
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1279992
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Kaempferol Regulates the Lipid-Profile in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats through an Increase in Hepatic PPARα Levels

Chia Ju Chang1 , Thing-Fong Tzeng2 , Shorong-Shii Liou3 , Yuan-Shiun Chang1 , I-Min Liu3
  • 1School of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Pao Chien Hospital, Ping Tung City, Pingtung County, Taiwan
  • 3Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Shiang, Ping Tung Shien, Taiwan
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

received January 31, 2011 revised May 16, 2011

accepted May 22, 2011

Publikationsdatum:
04. Juli 2011 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and antihyperlipidemic effects of the flavonoid kaempferol (3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone). After being fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for two weeks, rats were dosed orally with kaempferol (75, 150, or 300 mg/kg) or fenofibrate (100 mg/kg) once daily for eight weeks. Fenofibrate is an antilipemic agent that exerts its therapeutic effects through activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). Kaempferol (300 mg/kg/day) produced effects similar to fenofibrate in reducing body weight gain, visceral fat-pad weights, plasma lipid levels, as well as the coronary artery risk and atherogenic indices of HFD-fed rats. Kaempferol also caused dose-related reductions in hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol content and lowered hepatic lipid droplet accumulation and the size of epididymal adipocytes in HFD-fed rats. Kaempferol and fenofibrate reversed the HFD-induced downregulation of hepatic PPARα. HFD-induced reductions in the hepatic levels of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), and cytochrome P450 isoform 4A1 (CYP4A1) proteins were reversed by kaempferol and fenofibrate. The elevated expression of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) in HFD-fed rats were lowered by kaempferol and fenofibrate. These results suggest that kaempferol reduced the accumulation of visceral fat and improved hyperlipidemia in HFD-fed obese rats by increasing lipid metabolism through the downregulation of SREBPs and promoting the hepatic expression of ACO and CYP4A1, secondary to a direct upregulation hepatic PPARα expression.

References

Prof. I-Min Liu

Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology
Tajen University

No. 20, Weisin Rd

PingTung County

Taiwan

Telefon: +886-8-7 62 40 02-22 11

Fax: +886-8-7 62 53 08

eMail: iml@mail.tajen.edu.tw

Prof. Yuan-Shiun Chang

School of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources
China Medical University

Taichung

Taiwan

Telefon: +886-4-22 03 03 80

Fax: +886-4-22 08 33 62

eMail: yschang@mail.cmu.edu.tw