Inhibition of Oxidative Stress of Sciatic Nerve in Diabetic Rats by Tangbikang Granules Regulating AMPK/PGC-1α/SIRT3 Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Tangbikang granules on oxidative stress of sciatic nerve in diabetic rats by regulating adenylate activated protein kinase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α/mitochondrial Sirtuins 3 （AMPK/PGC-1α/SIRT3） signaling pathway. MethodThe spontaneous obesity type 2 diabetes model was established using ZDF rats. After modeling， they were randomly divided into high， medium， and low dose Tangbikang granule groups （2.5， 1.25， 0.625 g·kg-1·d-1） and lipoic acid group （0.026 8 g·kg-1·d-1）， and the normal group was set up. The rats were administered continuously for 12 weeks after modeling. The blood glucose of rats was detected before intervention and at 4， 8， 12 weeks after intervention. At the 12th week， motor nerve conduction velocity （MNCV）， sensory nerve conduction velocity （SNCV）， nerve blood flow velocity， mechanical pain threshold， and thermal pain threshold were detected. The sciatic nerve was taken for hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining to observe the tissue morphology. The ultrastructure of the sciatic nerve was observed by transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of superoxide dismutase （SOD）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in sciatic nerve were determined by enzyme-related immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expressions of AMPKα， AMPKβ， PGC-1α， and SIRT3 in sciatic nerve were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the normal group， fasting blood glucose in the model group was increased at each time point （P<0.01）. The mechanical pain threshold was decreased （P<0.05）， and the incubation time of the hot plate was extended （P<0.01）. MNCV， SNCV， and nerve blood flow velocity decreased （P<0.05）. The expression level of SOD was decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of MDA， IL-1β， and TNF-α were increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of AMPKα， AMPKβ， PGC-1α， and SIRT3 were decreased （P<0.01）. The structure of sciatic nerve fibers in the model group was loose， and the arrangement was disordered. The demyelination change was obvious. Compared with the model group， the fasting blood glucose of rats in the high dose Tangbikang granule group was decreased after the intervention of eight weeks and 12 weeks （P<0.01）. The mechanical pain threshold increased （P<0.05）. The incubation time of the hot plate was shortened （P<0.01）. MNCV， SNCV， and Flux increased （P<0.05）. The expression level of SOD was increased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of MDA， IL-1β， and TNF-α were decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of AMPKα， AMPKβ， PGC-1α， and SIRT3 were increased （P<0.01）. The sciatic nerve fibers in the high-dose Tangbikang granule group were tighter and more neatly arranged， with only a few demyelinating changes. The high， medium， and low dose Tangbikang granule groups showed a significant dose-effect trend. ConclusionTangbikang granules may improve sciatic nerve function in diabetic rats by regulating AMPK/PGC-1α/SIRT3 signaling pathway partly to inhibit oxidative stress.

Comparison of Effect of Hirudo， Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma， and Their Combinations on Renal Fibrosis in Rats with Chronic Renal Failure / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Hirudo， Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma， and drug pair on renal pathological morphology and protein phosphatase 2A （PP2A）/adenylate activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） signal pathway in rats with chronic renal failure （CRF）. MethodThe 55 male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group （n=11） and a modeling group （n=44）. The normal group was fed conventionally， and the modeling group was given 0.25 g·kg-1·d-1 adenine by gavage for 28 days to replicate the CRF model. After successful modeling， rats were randomly divided into model group， Hirudo group （3 g·kg-1·d-1）， Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma group （3 g·kg-1·d-1）， and Hirudo + Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma group （3 g·kg-1·d-1）， with 9 rats in each group. The normal group and model group were given a constant volume of normal saline by intragastric administration for 30 days. At the end of the experiment， the levels of serum creatinine （SCr） and urea nitrogen （BUN） in all groups were measured. The renal pathological morphology changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Masson staining， and electron microscopy. The mRNA expressions of PP2A， AMPK， and mTOR were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expression levels of PP2A， AMPK， phosphorylation（p）-AMPK， mTOR， and p-mTOR in renal tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the renal pathological structure changes were obvious， and the levels of SCr and BUN were significantly increased. The mRNA expression of PP2A， protein expression of PP2A， and p-mTOR/mTOR expression were significantly increased， and the p-AMPK/AMPK was significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the renal pathological morphology changes were significantly improved， and the levels of SCr and BUN were significantly decreased. The mRNA expression of PP2A， protein expression of PP2A， and p-mTOR/mTOR expression in the renal tissue were significantly decreased， and the p-AMPK/AMPK was significantly increased （P<0.05） in all groups after drug intervention. In addition， the effect in the Hirudo+Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma group was better. The mRNA expression levels of AMPK and mTOR in the renal tissue were not significantly different among the normal group， model group， and other groups. ConclusionThe efficacy of Hirudo and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma pairs in improving renal fibrosis in rats with CRF is significantly better than that of the single drug， and its improvement on renal fibrosis in rats with CRF may be related to the regulation of PP2A/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis Improved by Qizhu Prescription Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Qizhu prescription on liver lipid anabolism and oxidative stress in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） based on adenylate activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway. MethodA total of 60 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal group （n = 10） and a modeling group （n = 50）. The modeling group was fed by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks to establish the NASH mice model and was randomly divided into model group， low-， medium， and high-dose groups of Qizhu prescription， and Yishanfu group， with 10 mice in each group. Qizhu prescription was administered intragastrically once a day at a dose of 4.75， 9.50， and 19.00 g·kg-1 in each group and 228 mg·kg-1 in Yishanfu group. The normal group and model group were given equal volumes of pure water for eight weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， and glucose （GLU） levels were detected. The pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and oil red O staining. Serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， free fatty acids （FFA）， reduced glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， catalase （CAT）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase （ACC）， carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A（CPT1A）， and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 （UCP2） were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Protein expression levels of AMPK， p-AMPK， ACC， CPT1A， and UCP2 in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the liver steatosis of the model group was obvious， with multiple inflammatory clusters and large amounts of intracellular lipid deposition. The activity of serum AST， ALT， as well as levels of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α， FFA， and MDA were significantly increased， the activity of CAT and SOD was significantly decreased， and the mRNA and protein expressions of ACC were significantly increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1 and UCP2 were significantly decreased， and the protein expression of p-AMPK was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the degree of liver steatosis in the Qizhu prescription and Yishanfu groups was reduced， the activity of AST and ALT， as well as the levels of IL-6， IL-1β， TNF-α， FFA， and MDA was significantly decreased， and the activity of CAT and SOD was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expressions of ACC in liver tissue of mice in medium- and high-dose groups of Qizhu prescription were significantly decreased， while the mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1A and UCP2， as well as p-AMPK protein were significantly increased （P<0.01）. ConclusionQizhu prescription can improve liver lipid metabolism， reduce oxidative stress， and promote liver cell repair in NASH mice by activating the AMPK signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma Improving Liver Insulin Resistance in db/db Mice by Regulating AMPK/ULK1/Beclin1 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma on reducing insulin resistance in db/db mice by regulating the adenylate activated protein kinase （AMPK）/UNC-51-like kinase 1 （ULK1）/key molecule of autophagy， benzyl chloride 1 （Beclin1） pathway and elucidate the underlying mechanism. MethodSixty 6-week-old male db/db mice were studied. They were randomly divided into the model group， metformin group （0.26 g·kg-1）， and low-， middle-， and high-dose groups （2.25， 4.5， 9 g·kg-1） of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma. A blank group of db/m mice of the same age was set， with 12 mice in each group. After eight weeks of continuous intragastric administration， the blank group and model group received distilled water intragastrically once a day. The survival status of the mice was observed， and fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured using a Roche blood glucose device. Fasting serum insulin （FINS） was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay， and the insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR） was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the liver of the mice. The protein expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， autophagy associated protein 5 （Atg5）， and p62 in liver tissue were determined by using Western blot. The protein expression levels of autophagy associated protein 1 light chain 3B （LC3B） and ULK1 in liver tissue were determined using immunofluorescence. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （Real-time PCR） was used to measure mRNA expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， Atg5， ULK1， and p62. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited a significant increase in body mass （P<0.01）. Additionally， the levels of FBG， FINS， and HOMA-IR significantly changed （P<0.01）. The structure of liver cells was disordered. The protein expression levels of AMPK， Beclin1， and Atg5 in liver tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the expression level of p62 protein was significantly increased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins were consistent. Compared with the model group， the body mass of the metformin group and high and medium-dose groups of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. FBG， FINS， and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. After treatment， the liver structure damage in each group was alleviated to varying degrees. The protein expressions of AMPK， Beclin1， Atg5， LC3B， and ULK1 were increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while the protein expression of p62 was decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of mRNA and proteins were generally consistent. ConclusionThe combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma-Coptidis Rhizoma can effectively improve liver insulin resistance， regulate the AMPK autophagy signaling pathway， alleviate insulin resistance in db/db mice， and effectively prevent the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes.

Mechanism of Natural Plant Essential Oil in Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） is a heterogeneous disease with insulin deficiency and insulin resistance （IR） as the main etiology and is often accompanied by complications. Volatile oil is a volatile oily liquid extracted from natural plants， which has many pharmacological effects such as regulating Qi， relieving pain， inhibiting bacteria， and reducing inflammation. In recent years， there have been numerous reports on the treatment of T2DM by natural plant volatile oil and its effective components， which has become one of the new directions in the treatment of T2DM. With natural plant essential oil and its active components as the starting point， this paper comprehensively analyzed and summarized the material basis， mechanism， and signaling pathways of essential oil in the treatment of T2DM and its complications in China and abroad in recent years， and focused on the inhibitory effect of essential oil and its active components， such as carvacrol， paeonol， and β-caryophylene， on IR to improve T2DM by protecting pancreatic β-cells， inhibiting α-glucosidase activity， regulating the abundance and diversity of intestinal microbiota， and regulating glucose transporter protein type4 （GLUT4）， adenylate 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathways to provide some references for the volatile oil intervention in T2DM and the development of new green antidiabetic drugs.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Effect of Emodin Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Emodin is a common Chinese medicine compound with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant and lipid-lowering effects. Modern studies have found that emodin activates adenylate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling molecules and regulates transcriptional factors and biological functions of relevant pathways. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic liver disease with a high incidence in China. With the global prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to the expression of the metabolism-related signal molecule AMPK. AMPK is a key enzyme in glycolipid metabolism that can involve different stages of NAFLD development to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by regulating energy metabolism in the body. In recent years, many studies have suggested that the activation of AMPK signaling molecules is related to the function realization of emodin, and lipid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function-related transcription factors affected by AMPK downstream signaling molecules and other biological effects can be interacted with each other. The detailed mechanism of action associated with AMPK activation provides new thought about the treatment of NAFLD by emodin. This paper mainly summarizes the research progress of emodin by participating in the various stages of NAFLD by AMPK-related signaling pathways through literature retrieval and comprehensive analysis. It lays a foundation for further research on the therapeutic effect and mechanism of emodin on NAFLD.