Polyphenolic compounds from Artemisia dracunculus L. inhibit PEPCK gene expression and gluconeogenesis in an H4IIE hepatoma cell line

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Dec;293(6):E1503-10. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00420.2007. Epub 2007 Sep 11.

Abstract

An ethanolic extract of Russian tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus L., with antihyperglycemic activity in animal models was reported to decrease phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) mRNA expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was developed for the bioactivity-guided purification of the compounds within the extract that decrease PEPCK expression. The assay was based on the inhibition of dexamethasone-stimulated PEPCK upregulation in an H4IIE hepatoma cell line. Two polyphenolic compounds that inhibited PEPCK mRNA levels were isolated and identified as 6-demethoxycapillarisin and 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone with IC(50) values of 43 and 61 muM, respectively. The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY-294002 showed that 6-demethoxycapillarisin exerts its effect through the activation of the PI3K pathway, similarly to insulin. The effect of 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone is not regulated by PI3K and dependent on activation of AMPK pathway. These results indicate that the isolated compounds may be responsible for much of the glucose-lowering activity of the Artemisia dracunculus extract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Artemisia / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chalcones / analysis
  • Chalcones / isolation & purification
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Chromones / analysis
  • Chromones / isolation & purification
  • Chromones / pharmacology*
  • Cyclic AMP / analogs & derivatives
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects*
  • Gluconeogenesis / drug effects*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / analysis
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / isolation & purification
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / genetics*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Shoots / chemistry
  • Polyphenols
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Thionucleotides / pharmacology

Substances

  • 2',4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone
  • 6-demethoxycapillarisin
  • Chalcones
  • Chromones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Flavonoids
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Morpholines
  • Phenols
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Thionucleotides
  • dorsomorphin
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • 8-((4-chlorophenyl)thio)cyclic-3',5'-AMP
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Akt2 protein, rat
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)
  • Glucose