We investigated the effects of
zerumbone, a natural cyclic
sesquiterpene, on hepatic lipid metabolism in Syrian golden hamsters fed on high-fat diet (HFD). After being fed HFD for 2 weeks, hamsters were dosed orally with
zerumbone (75, 150, and 300 mg kg(-1)) once daily for 8 weeks.
After treatment with
zerumbone, the plasma levels of total
cholesterol (TC) and
triglycerides (TGs) and the contents of TC and TG in hepatic tissue as well as homeostasis model assessment of
insulin resistance were lowered, especially in the
zerumbone-treated group (300 mg kg(-1)). Moreover, the histological evaluation of liver specimens demonstrated that the steatosis and
inflammation in liver of
zerumbone-treated groups were improved.
Zerumbone exhibited the ability to decrease hepatic
mRNA levels of
sterol regulatory
element-binding protein-1c and its lipogenic target genes, such as
fatty acid synthase,
acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and
stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. The hepatic
mRNA expression of
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α , together with its target genes including
carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1,
acyl-CoA oxidase, and
acyl-CoA oxidase 1, was also upregulated by
zerumbone. In conclusion,
zerumbone improves
insulin sensitivity, decreases lipogenesis, and increases
lipid oxidation in the liver of HFD-fed hamsters, implying a potential application in the treatment of
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.