Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) Extract Attenuates Bone Loss in Diabetic Mice

Integrated multi-omics analyses combined with western blotting discovered that cis-TSG alleviated liver injury via modulating lipid metabolism

Background: Polygonum multiflorum shows dual hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic effects. The bioactive components responsible for these effects are unknown. This study investigates whether cis-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (cis-TSG), a stilbene glycoside, has hepatoprotective and/or hepatotoxic effects in a liver injury model. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were administered α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to induce cholestasis, followed by treatment with cis-TSG. Hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic effects were assessed using serum biomarkers, liver histology, and metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. Transcriptomic analysis were conducted to explore gene expression changes associated with lipid and bile acid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Results and Discussion: ANIT administration caused significant liver injury, evident from elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and dysregulated lipid metabolism. cis-TSG treatment markedly reduced ALT and AST levels, normalized lipid profiles, and ameliorated liver damage, as seen histologically. Metabolomic and lipidomic analyses revealed that cis-TSG influenced key pathways, notably glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis. The treatment with cis-TSG increased monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs), enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) activity. Transcriptomic data confirmed these findings, showing the downregulation of genes linked to lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the cis-TSG-treated group. The findings suggest that cis-TSG has a hepatoprotective effect through modulation of lipid metabolism and PPARα activation.

Alleviation of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats by Ethanolic Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke Extract

Secondary osteoporosis is frequently due to the use of high-dose glucocorticoids (GCs). The existing strategy for managing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is considered insufficient and remains in a state of ongoing evolution. Therefore, it is crucial to develop more precise and effective agents for the treatment of GIOP. The constituents of Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke, specifically Polygonum multiflorum (PM) Thunb, have previously shown promise in mitigating osteopenia. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of an ethanolic PM extract (PMR30) against GIOP in male rats. Prednisone (6 mg/kg/day, GC) was continuously administered to rats to induce GIOP, and they were subjected to treatment with or without ethanolic PMR30 for a duration of 120 days. Serum was collected for biochemical marker analysis. Bone histomorphometric, histological, and TUNEL analyses were performed on tibia samples. The protein expressions of LC3, Agt5, and Beclin 1 in the femur underwent examination through western blotting. Prolonged and excessive GC treatment significantly impeded bone formation, concomitant with reduced bone mass and body weight. It also suppressed OCN and OPG/RANKL in serum, and decreased Beclin 1 and LC3 in bone. Simultaneously, there was an elevation in bone resorption markers and apoptosis. Treatments with both high dose and low dose of PMR30 alleviated GIOP, stimulated bone formation, and upregulated OCN and OPG/RANKL, while suppressing TRACP-5b, CTX-I, and apoptosis. The impact of PMR30 possibly involves the enhancement of autophagy proteins (LC3, Agt5, and Beclin 1) and the inhibition of apoptosis within the bone. PMR30 holds promise as a prospective therapeutic agent for preventing and treating GIOP.

Dianthrone derivatives from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb: Anti-diabetic activity, structure-activity relationships (SARs), and mode of action

PTP1B plays an important role as a key negative regulator of tyrosine phosphorylation associated with insulin receptor signaling in the therapy for diabetes and obesity. In this study, the anti-diabetic activity of dianthrone derivatives from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., as well as the structure-activity relationships, mechanism, and molecular docking were explored. Among these analogs, trans-emodin dianthrone (compound 1) enhances insulin sensitivity by upregulating the insulin signaling pathway in HepG2 cells and displays considerable anti-diabetic activity in db/db mice. By using photoaffinity labeling and mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we discovered that trans-emodin dianthrone (compound 1) may bind to PTP1B allosteric pocket at helix α6/α7, which provides fresh insight into the identification of novel anti-diabetic agents.

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Hot Water Extract Reverses High-Fat Diet-Induced Lipid Metabolism of White and Brown Adipose Tissues in Obese Mice

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an anti-obesity effect of a Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. hot water extract (PW) was involved in the lipid metabolism of white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6N obese mice. Mice freely received a normal diet (NCD) or an HFD for 12 weeks; HFD-fed mice were orally given PW (100 or 300 mg/kg) or garcinia cambogia (GC, 200 mg/kg) once a day. After 12 weeks, PW (300 mg/kg) or GC significantly alleviated adiposity by reducing body weight, WAT weights, and food efficiency ratio. PW (300 mg/kg) improved hyperinsulinemia and enhanced insulin sensitivity. In addition, PW (300 mg/kg) significantly down-regulated expression of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) genes in WAT compared with the untreated HFD group. HFD increased BAT gene levels such as adrenoceptor beta 3 (ADRB3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), PPARγ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), PPARα, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) compared with the NCD group; however, PW or GC effectively reversed those levels. These findings suggest that the anti-obesity activity of PW was mediated via suppression of lipogenesis in WAT, leading to the normalization of lipid metabolism in BAT.

Systemic elucidation on the potential bioactive compounds and hypoglycemic mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum based on network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a complex metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, plaguing the whole world. However, the action mode of multi-component and multi-target for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) could be a promising treatment of diabetes mellitus. According to the previous research, the TCM of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) showed noteworthy hypoglycemic effect. Up to now, its hypoglycemic active ingredients and mechanism of action are not yet clear. In this study, network pharmacology was employed to elucidate the potential bioactive compounds and hypoglycemic mechanism of PM.

METHODS

First, the compounds with good pharmacokinetic properties were screened from the self-established library of PM, and the targets of these compounds were predicted and collected through database. Relevant targets of diabetes were summarized by searching database. The intersection targets of compound-targets and disease-targets were obtained soon. Secondly, the interaction net between the compounds and the filtered targets was established. These key targets were enriched and analyzed by protein-protein interactions (PPI) analysis, molecular docking verification. Thirdly, the key genes were used to find the biologic pathway and explain the therapeutic mechanism by genome ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis. Lastly, the part of potential bioactive compounds were under enzyme activity inhibition tests.

RESULTS

In this study, 29 hypoglycemic components and 63 hypoglycemic targets of PM were filtrated based on online network database. Then the component-target interaction network was constructed and five key components resveratrol, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin were further obtained. Sequential studies turned out, AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, PTGS2, MMP9, MAPK14, and KDR were the common key targets. Docking studies indicated that the bioactive compounds could stably bind the pockets of target proteins. There were 38 metabolic pathways, including regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, prolactin signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, linoleic acid metabolism, Rap1 signaling pathway, arachidonic acid metabolism, and osteoclast differentiation closely connected with the hypoglycemic mechanism of PM. And the enzyme activity inhibition tests showed the bioactive ingredients have great hypoglycemic activity.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the study used systems pharmacology to elucidate the main hypoglycemic components and mechanism of PM. The work provided a scientific basis for the further hypoglycemic effect research of PM and its monomer components, but also provided a reference for the secondary development of PM.

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Extract Stimulates Melanogenesis by Induction of COX2 Expression through the Activation of p38 MAPK in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM) root extracts have been used for treating graying hair in Oriental medicine; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the melanogenic effects of PM root have not been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the melanogenic effects of an ethanolic extract of PM root (PME) and the mechanisms involved. We examined the effects of PME on cell viability, cellular melanin content, and tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. The melanogenic mechanism of PME was explored using signaling inhibitors and examining the expression of melanogenic genes and signaling molecules by western blot and RT-qPCR analyses. PME did not exhibit any cytotoxicity in B16F10 cells compared to that in control cells. PME treatment significantly increased melanin production and tyrosinase activity. In addition, PME induced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) as well as that of melanogenic genes, such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF), tyrosinase-related protein (Trp) 1, Trp2, and tyrosinase, in B16F10 cells. PME treatment increased the level of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and pretreatment with SB 203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, significantly suppressed this PME-induced increase in the expression of COX2 and melanogenic genes. These results indicate that PME induced the expression of melanogenic genes by inducing COX2 expression via the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway, thereby contributing to the enhancement of melanogenesis.