Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure Extract of Korean Fresh Ginseng on Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and AMPK Activation in HepG2 Cells

Ginseng is widely used as a medicinal herb and has demonstrated effects against liver diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of the high hydrostatic pressure extract of Korean fresh ginseng (HEG) on hepatic lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol contents were determined using enzymatic colorimetric methods. The mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR. The activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was measured with an AMPK kinase assay kit. HEG significantly reduced hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, HEG suppressed the expression of FAS, a key enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, and HMGCR, a rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic cholesterol synthesis. Additionally, HEG increased the activity of AMPK, a major regulator of lipid metabolism. These results suggest that HEG reduces hepatic lipid accumulation with inhibition of FAS and HMGCR expression and stimulation of AMPK activity in HepG2 cells. Consequently, HEG may be beneficial as a functional food ingredient to improve various hepatic diseases by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation.