# Effects of Yomogi Tea on Lipid Metabolism in Renal Tubular HK-2 Cells

## TL;DR

Yomogi tea reduces lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity in kidney cells, suggesting it could help manage metabolic disorders like diabetic nephropathy.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates yomogi tea's novel regulatory effects on lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity in renal tubular cells.

## Key findings

- YL and YP significantly reduced intracellular triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in HK-2 cells.
- Yomogi tea downregulated FAS mRNA and upregulated ATGL mRNA, suggesting regulation of lipid metabolism.
- Treatment reduced lipid droplet size and neutral lipid content, potentially mitigating lipotoxic effects.

## Abstract

Excessive accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs), their dynamics, and lipotoxicity are critical factors in the progression of metabolic disorders, including diabetic nephropathy. This study investigates the effects of yomogi tea (Mugwort tea), specifically its leaf infusion (YL) and powdered infusion (YP), on lipid metabolism in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells under lipotoxic conditions induced by palmitic acid (PA). Both YL and YP significantly reduced intracellular triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels, with YP showing a trend toward greater efficacy. Mechanistic analysis revealed that yomogi tea regulates lipid metabolism by significantly downregulating mRNA expression of FAS and upregulating that of the lipolytic ATGL, while SCD-1 mRNA expression remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, yomogi tea reduced LD size and neutral lipid content, potentially enhancing lipid hydrolysis efficiency and mitigating lipotoxic effects. These findings highlight the potential of yomogi tea as a natural agent for regulating lipid metabolism and reducing lipotoxicity, offering promise for managing lipid metabolism-related disorders.