HM-chromanone isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. alleviates insulin resistance and inhibits gluconeogenesis by regulating palmitate-induced activation of ROS/JNK in HepG2 cells

Abstract Oxidative stress is a major cause of hepatic insulin resistance. This study investigated whether (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone (HM-chromanone), a homoisoflavonoid compound isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., alleviates insulin resistance and inhibits gluconeogenesis by reducing palmitate (PA)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in HepG2 cells. PA treatment (0.5 mM) for 16 h resulted in the highest production of ROS and induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells. HM-chromanone, like N-acetyl-1-cysteine, significantly decreased PA-induced ROS production in the cells. HM-chromanone also significantly inhibited PA-induced JNK activation, showing a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor and interleukin expression levels. Thus, HM-chromanone decreased the phosphorylation of Ser307 in insulin receptor substrate 1, while increasing phosphorylation of serine–threonine kinase (AKT), thereby restoring the insulin signaling pathway impaired by PA. HM-chromanone also significantly increased the phosphorylation of forkhead box protein O, thereby inhibiting the expression of gluconeogenic enzymes and reducing glucose production in PA-treated HepG2 cells. HM-chromanone also increased glycogen synthesis by phosphorylating glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Therefore, HM-chromanone may alleviate insulin resistance and inhibit gluconeogenesis by regulating PA-induced ROS/JNK activation in HepG2 cells.