Acteoside from Lippia triphylla (lemon verbena) regulates liver lipid metabolism

Researchers at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine explored the effects of Lippia triphylla (lemon verbena) extract and its active component, acteoside (ACT), on abnormal liver lipid metabolism. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Natural Medicines.

• Diabetes is chronic disease that’s linked to triglyceride metabolism disorder, an etiological factor in fatty liver disease, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
• Diet-based therapy, which includes a balanced energy intake and the use of herbal supplements, is deemed a suitable approach to stop the progression of these diseases.
• The leaves of L. triphylla, a member of the Verbenaceae family, are used for cooking as well as to make an herbal tea.
• Long-term consumption of this herb has been proven to be safe.
• The researchers reported that treatment with an extract derived from L. triphylla leaves (LTE) and ACT significantly decreased serum and liver lipid content in vivo.
• It also increased the phosphorylation of the energy metabolism moderator, adenosine 5?-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and reduced the levels of two markers of lipid synthesis, namely, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS).
• LTE and ACT treatment particularly enhanced ACC phosphorylation.
• The researchers also found that ACT promoted lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation by increasing the mRNA expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)-1, two enzymes involved in the breakdown of triglycerides and fatty acids, respectively.

Altogether these findings suggest that L. triphylla leaves and their major component, acteoside, can be used as natural medicine for the treatment of diabetes-associated lipid metabolism disorder.

Journal Reference:

Zhang Y, Liu M, Chen Q, Wang T, Yu H, Xu J, Wang T. LEAVES OF LIPPIA TRIPHYLLA IMPROVE HEPATIC LIPID METABOLISM VIA ACTIVATING AMPK TO REGULATE LIPID SYNTHESIS AND DEGRADATION. Journal of Natural Medicines. 19 May 2019;73(4):707–716. DOI: 10.1007/s11418-019-01316-5