Artichoke Polyphenols Rich in 1,4-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid Regulate Lipid Metabolism via the PPAR and AMPK Pathways to Alleviate Hepatic Lipid Accumulation.

Given the global surge in obesity, this study evaluated artichoke polyphenols (APs) as potential functional agents against obesity-related hepatic lipid accumulation by elucidating their chemical composition and underlying mechanisms. Semi-quantitative HPLC-MS analysis revealed that 1,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid constituted 60-80% of the total polyphenolic peak areas, with inner bract polyphenols (IBAPs) exhibiting higher purity and phenolic acid content than outer bract polyphenols (OBAPs). In an oleic acid-induced high-fat HepG2 cell model, APs at non-cytotoxic concentrations dose-dependently and significantly reduced intracellular lipid droplet accumulation, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. Mechanistically, APs were correlated with activation of the AMPK signaling pathway, markedly upregulating AMPKα, phosphorylated AMPKα, and CPT1A, while concurrently downregulating FABP4, and PPARγ. These findings suggest that artichoke bract polyphenols are associated with alleviation of hepatic lipid accumulation, potentially through coordinated modulation of PPAR and AMPK pathways that correlate with enhanced mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and reduced de novo lipogenesis, highlighting their potential as natural functional agents that warrant further investigation for managing obesity-related metabolic disorders.