Antidiabetic effects of trihydroxychalcone derivatives via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase

In this study, trihydroxychalcone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their potential antidiabetic effects in a cell-culture system and a diabetic mouse model in vivo. Some of them increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in C2C12 myotubes without affecting the cell viability. In addition, some trihydroxychalcone derivatives, including chalcone 13, facilitated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Chalcone 13 administration to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice improved glucose tolerance, increased muscle FAO, and reduced fat accumulation in the liver and skeletal muscles. These results suggest that some chalcone derivatives, particularly chalcone 13, might be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of diabetes. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.