Astragalin Inhibits Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in Palmitic Acid-Induced HEPG2 Cells

Insulin resistance is an element of metabolic syndrome, manifested as a decrease in glucose uptake, which often leads to a variety of complications, including type 2 diabetes. Astragalin is a natural flavonoid, isolated from traditional medicinal plants, such as Cuscuta chinensis, that has been shown to exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antiobesity, antiosteoporotic, anticancer, antiulcer, and antidiabetic properties. However, the mechanism of astragalin on insulin resistance has not yet been elucidated. To this end, we examined the effect of astragalin on palmitic acid-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells. The effects of the co-incubation of PA and astragalin on the cell viability, superoxide dismutase, fat content, and markers of oxidative stress in HepG2 cells were measured. The results show that astragalin restored the cell viability, reduced oxidative stress, and insulin resistance in palmitic acid treated HepG2 cells. The protective effect of astragalin on palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells was through inhibition of NF-was through inhibition of NF-κ and JNK signaling pathways.