Fig. 7. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. (PF) sprout extract activates AMPK and inhibit gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells.

(A) HepG2 cells were pretreated with PF sprout extract or metformin (positive control) in the presence of glucose production medium (PM) in glucose free media. Levels of p-AMPK, G6Pase, and PEPCK were measured by immunoblotting with specific antibodies as indicated. (B) PF sprout extract inhibits glucose production in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were similarly pretreated with PF sprout extract, and then stimulated by cAMP/dexamethasone in the presence of PF sprout extract or metformin, as indicated. These data were representative of three independent experiments. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ^*P < 0.05 and ^**P < 0.01 vs. PM. p-AMPK, phosphorylated-AMPK; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; G6Pase, glucose-6-phosphatase; PEPCK, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.