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Lactucin and lactucopicrin ameliorate obesity in high-fat diet fed mice by promoting white adipose tissue browning through the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway

  • 0College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China.
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry +

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February 5, 2025

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February 5, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Lactucin and lactucopicrin from Cichorium glandulosum reduce body weight and improve metabolism in obese mice. These compounds promote white adipose tissue browning by activating key pathways and enhancing gut microbiota.

Area Of Science

  • Pharmacology and Nutraceuticals
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Obesity Research

Background

  • Cichorium glandulosum contains lactucin and lactucopicrin, known for lipid-lowering effects.
  • The precise mechanisms by which these compounds impact obesity are not fully understood.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the effects of lactucin and lactucopicrin on diet-induced obesity in mice.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, including adipose tissue browning and gut microbiota modulation.

Main Methods

  • High-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity model in C57BL/6J mice.
  • Treatment with lactucin and lactucopicrin.
  • Analysis of body weight, adipose tissue weight, serum parameters, irisin levels, gut microbiota metabolites, gene expression (qRT-PCR), protein expression (Western blot), and 16S rRNA sequencing.

Main Results

  • Lactucin and lactucopicrin significantly reduced body weight, adipose tissue weights, and improved metabolic parameters in HFD mice.
  • Treatment increased irisin levels and modulated gut microbiota, decreasing bile acids and increasing short-chain fatty acids.
  • Upregulation of beige fat markers, thermogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and lipolysis genes/proteins (including UCP1) was observed in adipose tissues.
  • Activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, crucial for white adipose tissue browning, was confirmed.

Conclusions

  • Lactucin and lactucopicrin ameliorate HFD-induced obesity in mice.
  • These compounds promote white adipose tissue browning via the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway.
  • Modulation of gut microbiota composition and function contributes to the anti-obesity effects.

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