Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol: An abundant galactosyllipid of Cirsium brevicaule A. GRAY leaves inhibits the expression of gene encoding fatty acid synthase.

BACKGROUND: The leaves of Cirsium brevicaule A. GRAY (CL) significantly decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and the expression of fatty acid synthase gene (FASN) in mice.

PURPOSE: We aimed to purify and identify the active compound(s) from CL and determine the inhibitory mechanism of expression of FASN.

METHODS: We purified monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) from extracts of CL (CL-MGDG) and showed that it was the active CL component through analyses of its effects on the expression of genes of human breast cancer cell line, SKBR-3.

RESULTS: The content and fatty acid composition of CL-MGDG are distinctly different from those of other vegetable-derived MGDGs. Treatment of SKBR-3 cells with MGDG decreased the level of FASN mRNA as well as the levels of mRNA encoding other protein involved in lipogenesis. Further, MGDG treatments significantly inhibited luciferase activities of constructs containing liver X receptor response element in FASN promoter region without altering the levels of mRNA encoding transcription factors. MGDG and the FASN inhibitor C75 decreased the viabilities of SKBR-3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. CL-MGDG more potently inhibited cell viability than a commercial MGDG preparation.

CONCLUSIONS: CL represents a good source of glycoglycerolipids with potential as functional ingredients of food.