Curcumin (CUMINUP60®) mitigates exercise fatigue through regulating PI3K/Akt/AMPK/mTOR pathway in mice

Bioactive Compounds in Citrus reticulata Peel Are Potential Candidates for Alleviating Physical Fatigue through a Triad Approach of Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Modeling

Physical fatigue (peripheral fatigue), which affects a considerable portion of the world population, is a decline in the ability of muscle fibers to contract effectively due to alterations in the regulatory processes of muscle action potentials. However, it lacks an efficacious therapeutic intervention. The present study explored bioactive compounds and the mechanism of action of Citrus reticulata peel (CR-P) in treating physical fatigue by utilizing network pharmacology (NP), molecular docking, and simulation-based molecular dynamics (MD). The bioactive ingredients of CR-P and prospective targets of CR-P and physical fatigue were obtained from various databases. A PPI network was generated by the STRING database, while the key overlapping targets were analyzed for enrichment by adopting KEGG and GO. The binding affinities of bioactive ingredients to the hub targets were determined by molecular docking. The results were further validated by MD simulation. Five bioactive compounds were screened, and 56 key overlapping targets were identified for CR-P and physical fatigue, whereas the hub targets with a greater degree in the PPI network were AKT1, TP53, STAT3, MTOR, KRAS, HRAS, JAK2, IL6, EGFR, and ESR1. The findings of the enrichment analysis indicated significant enrichment of the targets in three key signaling pathways, namely PI3K-AKT, MAPK, and JAK-STAT. The molecular docking and MD simulation results revealed that the bioactive compounds of CR-P exhibit a stronger affinity for interacting with the hub targets. The present work suggests that bioactive compounds of CR-P, specifically Hesperetin and Sitosterol, may ameliorate physical fatigue via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway by targeting AKT1, KRAS, and MTOR proteins.

Curcumin and its nano-formulations combined with exercise: From molecular mechanisms to clinic

Curcumin is a strong substance derived from turmeric, a popular spice, renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities. The study delved deeply into a thorough examination of various sources to evaluate the impact of both regular curcumin and nano-formulated curcumin on elements that impact physical performance, including muscular strain, discomfort, swelling, and oxidative tension. While engaging in exercise, the body experiences a rise in reactive oxygen species and inflammation. As a result, it is important to ensure a proper balance between internal and external sources of antioxidants to maintain stability in the skeletal muscle. Without this balance, there is a risk of muscle soreness, damage, and ultimately, a decline in exercise performance. Curcumin possesses the ability to enhance physical performance and reduce the symptoms of muscle fatigue and injury by virtue of its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Including curcumin supplements appears to have advantageous effects on various aspects of exercise, such as enhancing performance, assisting with recovery, lessening muscle damage and discomfort, and lowering levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, a thorough assessment is necessary to precisely gauge the healing advantages of curcumin in enhancing exercise ability and reducing recovery time.

The effect of vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) extract on fatigue alleviation via improving muscle mass

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Vine Tea (VT, Ampelopsis grossedentata), boasts a venerable tradition in China, with a recorded consumption history exceeding 1200 years. Predominantly utilized by ethnic groups in southwest China, this herbal tea is celebrated for its multifaceted therapeutic attributes. Traditionally, VT has been employed to alleviate heat and remove toxins, exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, soothe sore throats, lower blood pressure, and fortify bones and muscles. In the realm of functional foods derived from plant resources, VT has garnered attention for its potential in crafting anti-fatigue beverages or foods, attributed to its promising efficacy and minimal side effects. Currently, in accordance with the Food Safety Standards set forth by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission in China, VT serves as a raw material in various beverages.

AIM OF THE STUDY

VT has an anti-fatigue or similar effect in folk. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to VT's anti-fatigue effects remain elusive. This study endeavors to investigate the influence of Vine Tea Aqueous Extract (VTE) on fatigue mitigation and to elucidate its operative mechanisms, with the objective of developing VTE as a functional beverage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The preparation of VTE involved heat extraction and freeze-drying processes, followed by the identification of its metabolites using UPLC-QTOF-MS to ascertain the chemical composition of VTE. A fatigue model was established using a forced swimming test in mice. Potential molecular targets were identified through network pharmacology, transcriptome analysis, and molecular docking. Furthermore, RT-PCR and Western blot techniques were employed to assess mRNA and protein expressions related to the AMPK and FoxO pathways.

RESULTS

VTE significantly prolonged the duration of swimming time in an exhaustive swimming test in a dose-dependent manner, while simultaneously reducing the concentrations of blood lactic acid (LA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum urea nitrogen (SUN), and creatine kinase (CK). Notably, the performance of the high-dose VTE group surpassed that of the well-recognized ginsenoside. VTE demonstrated a regulatory effect akin to ginsenoside on the AMPK energy metabolism pathway and induced downregulation in the expression of Gadd45α, Cdkn1a, FOXO1, and Fbxo32 genes, suggesting an enhancement in skeletal muscle mass. These findings indicate that VTE can improve energy metabolism and muscle mass concurrently.

CONCLUSIONS

VTE exhibits significant anti-fatigue effects, and its mechanism is intricately linked to the modulation of the AMPK and FoxO pathways. Crucially, no caffeine or other addictive substances with known side effects were detected in VTE. Consequently, vine tea shows substantial promise as a natural resource for the development of anti-fatigue beverages within the food industry.

Signaling pathways regulated by natural active ingredients in the fight against exercise fatigue-a review

Exercise fatigue is a normal protective mechanism of the body. However, long-term fatigue hinders normal metabolism and exercise capacity. The generation and recovery from exercise fatigue involves alterations in multiple signaling pathways, mainly AMPK, PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/ARE, NF-κB, PINK1/Parkin, and BDNF/TrkB, as well as MAPK signaling pathways that mediate energy supply, reduction of metabolites, oxidative stress homeostasis, muscle fiber type switching, and central protective effects. In recent studies, a rich variety of natural active ingredients have been identified in traditional Chinese medicines and plant extracts with anti-fatigue effects, opening up the field of research in new anti-fatigue drugs. In this review we give an overview of the signaling pathways associated with the activity of natural food active ingredients against exercise fatigue. Such a comprehensive review is necessary to understand the potential of these materials as preventive measures and treatments of exercise fatigue. We expect the findings highlighted and discussed here will help guide the development of new health products and provide a theoretical and scientific basis for future research on exercise fatigue.

Curcumin's Dose-Dependent Attenuation of Gastric Cancer Cell Progression Via the PI3K Pathway Blockade

Background: Gastric cancer stands as a primary cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, making the discovery of new therapeutic agents essential for enhancing treatment outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa), has demonstrated potential in multiple cancer types due to its anti-cancer characteristics. This research aimed to examine the impact of curcumin on gastric cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion, as well as its influence on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade. Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines were exposed to varying curcumin concentrations, followed by assessments of cell viability, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, gene and protein expression levels associated with the PI3K signaling cascade were evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Results: The findings revealed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer cells treated with curcumin. Additionally, curcumin administration led to the downregulation of key genes and proteins within the PI3K signaling process, such as PI3K, Akt, and mTOR. Conclusion: These findings propose that curcumin may exercise its anti-cancer effects on gastric cancer cells, partly by suppressing the PI3K signaling pathway. This study's outcomes support curcumin's potential as a therapeutic agent for gastric cancer and encourage further exploration of its underlying molecular mechanisms and in vivo effectiveness.