부산대학교 도서관

Background: Excess hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation (steatosis) commonly observed in obesity, may lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Altered regulation of intracellular lipid droplets (LD) and TG metabolism, as well as activation of JNK-mediated proinflammatory pathways may trigger liver steatosis-related disorders. Drosophila melanogasteris an animal model used for studying obesity and its associated disorders. In Drosophila, lipids and glycogen are stored in the fat body (FB), which resembles mammalian adipose tissue and liver. Dietary oversupply leads to obesity-related disorders, which are characterized by FB dysfunction. Infusions of Lampaya medicinalisPhil. (Verbenaceae)are used in folk medicine of Chile to counteract inflammatory diseases. Hydroethanolic extract of lampaya (HEL) contains considerable amounts of flavonoids that may explain its anti-inflammatory effect. Methods: We studied whether HEL affects palmitic acid (PA, C16:0) and oleic acid (OA; C18:1)-induced TG accumulation and proinflammatory marker content in HepG2 hepatocytes as well as impaired lipid storage and proinflammatory molecule expression in Drosophila melanogasterfed a high-fat diet (HFD). Results: In HepG2 hepatocytes, exposure to OA/PA elevated TG content, FABP4, ATGL and DGAT2 expression, and the JNK proinflammatory pathway, as well as TNF-α and IL-6 production, while diminished FAS expression. These effects were prevented by HEL co-treatment. In Drosophilalarvae fed a HFD, HEL prevented TG accumulation and downregulated proinflammatory JNK pathway activation. Conclusion: HEL effect counteracting OA/PA- and HFD-induced lipid accumulation and proinflammatory marker expression in HepG2 hepatocytes and Drosophilalarvae may represent a preventive approach against hepatic steatosis and inflammation, associated to obesity and NAFLD.