Figure 4.

Effect of ginsenoside Rb3 on AMPK in HepG2 hepatocytes. (A) p-AMPK expression level, (B) AMPK expression level and (C) ratio of p-AMPK/AMPK in HepG2 hepatocytes under different treatment. The cells were incubated with 25 µM Rb3 and/or 1 mM AICAR and/or 10 µM Compound C. Total protein was extracted after a 24-h incubation using protein extraction kits. Western blotting was performed in the cells to assess the phosphorylation and total protein levels of AMPK. The ratio of pAMPK/AMPK was quantified in three independent experiments per condition. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (n=3). *P<0.05 vs. control group; ^#P<0.05 vs. ginsenoside Rb3 group. AMPK, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; Con, control; Rb3, ginsenoside Rb3.