Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Cyclocarya paliurus saponin (CPS) on FFA-induced H4-ⅡE in hepatic cells. Method: FFA-induced H4-ⅡE liver cells of rat were cultivated for 72 h

and then exposed to various concentrations of CPS (0

0.05

0.10

0.20

0.40 g·L-1)

and their viability was measured by Neutral red. According to the results of CPS cell activity

these cells were treated in the low-dose group (CPS-L

0.10 g·L-1) and the high-dose group (CPS-H

0.20 g·L-1)

Oile red staining was performed to determine lipid content in the cells. After treatment of the cells for 2 h

mRNA levels were measured by Real-time PCR

while phosphorylation levels of target proteins were detected by Western blot after treatment for 30 min. Result: It was found that the cell viability indexes in the cells intervened by 0.10

0.20 g·L-1 CPS increased significantly

compared with normal group (P<0.05). After treatment for 72 h

Oile red staining showed that FFA (20 μmol·L-1)-induced cells contained a large number of red lipid droplets

and lipid content increased significantly (P<0.01). However

after treatment CPS

red lipid droplets decreased

and lipid content significantly decreased (P<0.05

P<0.01). After intervention with CPS

phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (AMPK)

and acetylcoacarboxylase (ACC) in CPS-L and CPS-H groups were higher than those in control group (P<0.05

P<0.01). And sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA expressions in CPS-L and CPS-H groups increased

compared with control group (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: CPS can play a significant role in reducing FFA-induced lipid deposition in liver cells in vitro; The mechanism may be correlated with up-regulation of AMPK

ACC protein and phosphorylation levels

and down-regulation of SREBP1c

FAS mRNA expressions.