Potentilla anserina L. attenuates oleic acid-induced steatosis in HepG2 cells and hyperlipidemia in high fat diet-induced obese mice

In the present study, the ability of ethanol extract from Potentilla anserina L (PAEE) to reduce lipid accumulation induced by oleic acid (OA) in HepG2 cells and anti-hyperlipidemia effect in high-fat diet-fed mice were investigated. The results revealed that PAEE containing six major phenolic compounds which could significantly reduce the accumulation of lipid droplets in OA-induced HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, in vivo PAEE not only improved the level of fasting blood glucose, but also reduced the level of TG and TC in the serum of obese mice. Furthermore, the expression of adipogenic genes of Srebp, C/EBPα, PPARγ, and FAS were also inhibited by administration of PAEE for 16 weeks, while the expression of PPARɑ and Cpt1 in HepG2 dramatically increased. On the other hand, PAEE ameliorated the level of oxidative stress in the obese mice liver. Besides, the trends in the expression of those genes in animals' livers are similar to the results obtained from cell culture study. These results suggest that PAEE may have the promising effect on ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.