Objective To explore the effect of konjac compound (konjac) on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signal transduction pathways and the mechanism of the compound in regulating lipid metabolism (weight loss effect) in rats.
Methods Obesity model was established in 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups (10 in each group): a control group, a model group, three konjac groups at dosages of 0.344, 0.172, 0.086 g/kg, and a positive control group with orlistat capsules. By the end of the 6-week treatment, the rats′ serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), AMPK, fatty acid synthesis (FAS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (HMGCR), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were detected with kit method.
Results In comparison with those in the control rats, the serum TG,TC, and FAS and HMGCR activity increased but AMPK activity decreased in the model rats. Commpared with the model rats, the high dose konjac-treated rats had significantly reduced serum content of TG (1.08 ± 0.13) and TC (2.02 ± 0.31), expression of FAS (13.48 ± 6.98) and HMGCR (40.47 ± 4.35), but elevated serum AMPK expression (2014.45 ± 724.25) (P < 0.05 for all); in addition, the high and moderate dose konjac-treated rats had significantly decreased the serum ACC expression (125.75 ± 6.75 and 126.02 ± 7.15) (both P < 0.05).
Conclusion Konjac compound could regulate lipid metabolism through AMPK signaling pathway and impact on obesity in rats.
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