HM-chromanone from Portulaca oleracea L. inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and mitigates glucose production in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells.

This study aimed to identify the effect of (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone (HM-chromanone), isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., on tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and glucose production in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. The results revealed that HM-chromanone significantly decreases PTP1B expression and glucose production in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a molecular docking stimulation showed HM-chromanone inhibits PTP1B by binding to its active site. Additionally, HM-chromanone was found to significantly modulate insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) by decreasing phosphorylated serine 307 and increasing phosphorylated tyrosine 612 and activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Furthermore, HM-chromanone augmented the phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box protein O1 in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner at the concentrations of 15-60 μM. Additionally, it significantly reduced the expression of glucose 6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, which are main enzymes included in hepatic gluconeogenesis. Consequently, HM-chromanone was confirmed to significantly decrease glucose production and increase glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells.