Anti-Aging Effect of Momordica charantia L. on d-Galactose-Induced Subacute Aging in Mice by Activating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway.

Anti-aging is a challenging and necessary research topic. Momordica charantia L. is a common edible medicinal plant that has various pharmacological activities and is often employed in daily health care. However, its anti-aging effect on mice and the underlying mechanism thereof remain unclear. Our current study mainly focused on the effect of Momordica charantia L. on d-galactose-induced subacute aging in mice and explored the underlying mechanism. UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was applied to qualitatively analyze the chemical components of Momordica charantia L. ethanol extract (MCE). A subacute aging mice model induced by d-galactose (d-gal) was established to investigate the anti-aging effect and potential mechanism of MCE. The learning and memory ability of aging mice was evaluated using behavioral tests. The biochemical parameters, including antioxidant enzyme activity and the accumulation of lipid peroxides in serum, were measured to explore the effect of MCE on the redox imbalance caused by aging. Pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and the levels of aging-related proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were assessed using Western blotting. The experimental results demonstrated that a total of 14 triterpenoids were simultaneously identified in MCE. The behavioral assessments results showed that MCE can improve the learning and memory ability of subacute mice. The biochemical parameters determination results showed that MCE can improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decrease the accumulation of lipid peroxides in aging mice significantly. Furthermore, aging and injury in the hippocampus were ameliorated. Mechanistically, the results showed a significant upregulation in the protein expression of P-PI3K/PI3K and P-AKT/AKT (p < 0.01), as well as a significant reduction in cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3, Bax and P-mTOR/mTOR (p < 0.01). Our results confirm that MCE could restore the antioxidant status and improve cognitive impairment in aging mice, inhibit d-gal-induced apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and rescue the impaired autophagy caused by mTOR overexpression, thereby exerting an anti-aging effect.

Studies on Bioactive Components of Red Ginseng by UHPLC-MS and Its Effect on Lipid Metabolism of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: Red ginseng is a processed product of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, which is one of the widely used medicinal and edible herbs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Ginsenosides are its main pharmacologically active ingredient. This study aims to clarify the material basis of total ginsenosides of red ginseng (RGW) and verify the activity of RGW in treating lipid metabolism disorders caused by T2DM. Methods: An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology was applied to quantitatively analyze RGW. A T2DM rat model was established to verify the activity of RGW in treating lipid metabolism disorders caused by diabetes. First, the changes in diabetes-related parameters were observed, then the biochemical parameters of the rat serum and liver were measured, and finally, the pathological sections of the rat liver were observed, and the content of short-chain fatty acids in stools was measured. The in vitro activity of RGW was verified by fatty degenerated HepG2 cells. Results: A total of 10 ginsenosides were identified and quantitatively analyzed in RGW. Experimental results demonstrated that RGW can improve lipid metabolism disorders. RGW significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose and TG and TC levels in T2DM rats, and hepatic steatosis was significantly ameliorated. In vitro experiments by RGW treatment also significantly attenuated lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. RGW upregulated the content of 5 short-chain fatty acids in rat stools, which are related to lipid oxidation and liver gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: The total RGW were quantitatively analyzed by UHPLC-MS, and its effect on lipid metabolism of T2DM was studied. The experiment demonstrated that red ginseng can regulate lipid metabolism and improve lipid deposition, which provides a promising development for red ginseng as a functional food.

UHPLC-MS-Based Serum and Urine Metabolomics Reveals the Anti-Diabetic Mechanism of Ginsenoside Re in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Panax ginseng was employed in the treatment of "Xiao-Ke" symptom, which nowadays known as diabetes mellitus, in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. Ginsenoside Re was the major pharmacologic ingredient found abundantly in ginseng. However, the anti-diabetic of Ginsenoside Re and its underlying mechanism in metabolic level are still unclear. Serum and urine metabolomic method was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic pharmacological effects and the potential mechanism of Ginsenoside Re on high-fat diet combined streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS). Serum and urine samples were collected from the control group (CON), T2DM group, metformin (MET) treatment group, and ginsenoside Re treatment group after intervention. The biochemical parameters of serum were firstly analyzed. The endogenous metabolites in serum and urine were detected by UHPLC-MS. The potential metabolites were screened by multivariate statistical analysis and identified by accurate mass measurement, MS/MS, and metabolite databases. The anti-diabetic-related metabolites were analyzed by KEGG metabolic pathway, and its potential mechanism was discussed. The treatment of ginsenoside Re significantly reduced the blood glucose and serum lipid level improved the oxidative stress caused by T2DM. Biochemical parameters (urea nitrogen, uric acid) showed that ginsenoside Re could improve renal function in T2DM rats. Respective 2 and 6 differential metabolites were found and identified in serum and urine of ginsenoside Re compared with T2DM group and enriched in KEGG pathway. Metabolic pathways analysis indicated that the differential metabolites related to T2DM were mainly involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, Vitamin B6, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and bile secretion metabolic pathways. This study verified the anti-diabetic and anti-oxidation effects of ginsenoside Re, elaborated that ginsenoside Re has a good regulation of the metabolic disorder in T2DM rats, which could promote insulin secretion, stimulated cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1), and CaMKK ß to activate AMPK signaling pathway, inhibited insulin resistance, and improved blood glucose uptake and diabetic nephropathy, so as to play the role of anti-diabetic.

Structural Characterization of Ginsenosides from Flower Buds of Panax ginseng by RRLC-Q-TOF MS.

Ginseng flower bud as a part of Panax ginseng has received much attention as a valuable functional food with medicinal potential. A few studies focused on systematic and comprehensive studies on its major ingredients. This study aims to rapidly characterize ginsenosides in ginseng flower buds and provide scientific basis for developing functional food, exploiting pharmaceutical effects and making full use of ginseng resources. A rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was developed for rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of ginsenosides in ginseng flower buds. The compounds were identified by comparing retention time of the reference standards, accurate mass measurement and the fragment ions obtained from RRLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analyses. A total of 14 kinds of ginsenosides were identified and 5 kinds of malonyl-ginsenosides were first tentatively identified in ginseng flower buds. Ten kinds of main ginsenosides were quantitatively analyzed. The developed RRLC-Q-TOF-MS method was demonstrated as an effective analytical means for rapid characterization of the ginsenosides in flower buds of P. ginseng. The research result is valuable for quality control, assessment of authenticity and stability evaluation of ginseng flower buds.