Gynura divaricata exerts hypoglycemic effects by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism signaling pathway

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the anti-diabetic effects of Gynura divaricata (GD) and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Information about the chemical compositions of GD was obtained from extensive literature reports. Potential target genes were predicted using PharmMapper and analyzed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO). To validate the results from bioinformatics analyses, an aqueous extract of GD was administered to type 2 diabetic rats established by feeding a high-fat and high-sugar diet followed by STZ injection. Key proteins of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism signaling pathway were investigated by immunoblotting. Results: The blood glucose of the rats in the GD treatment group was significantly reduced compared with the model group without treatment. GD also showed activities in reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CREA). The levels of urine sugar (U-GLU) and urine creatinine (U-CREA) were also lowered after treatment with GD. Bioinformatics analysis showed that some pathways including metabolic pathways, insulin resistance, insulin signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, bile secretion, purine metabolism, etc. may be regulated by GD. Furthermore, GD significantly increased the protein expression levels of PKM1/2, p-AKT, PI3K p85, and GLUT4 in the rat liver. In addition, the expression levels of key proteins in the fatty acid metabolism signaling pathway including AMPK, p-AMPK, PPARα, and CPT1α were significantly upregulated. The antiapoptotic protein BCL-2/BAX expression ratio in rats was significantly upregulated after GD intervention. These results were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis results. Conclusions: Our study suggests that GD can exert hypoglycemic effects in vivo by regulating the genes at the key nodes of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism signaling pathway.

A nomogram model for the risk prediction of type 2 diabetes in healthy eastern China residents: a 14-year retrospective cohort study from 15,166 participants

“…In addition, the studies have also shown that impaired liver function is associated with T2DM [ 32 ]. And CREA [ 33 ], WBC [ 34 ], and MCHC [ 35 ] are also related to T2DM. Therefore, the application of these parameters in the model appears to be well-founded.…”

Exploring the mechanism by which aqueous Gynura divaricata inhibits diabetic foot based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification

“…In addition, the molecular docking results of VEGF also suggest that the binding between the important components described above and VEGF is good. Many studies (Xu et al 2015 , 2020 ; Yi et al 2016 ) have shown that GD has a good curative effect on diabetes, but few studies have been performed on its specific effect on foot complications and other complications of diabetes. This study showed that the target protein of GD in the treatment of DF was VEGF, which caused changes in the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.…”

A nomogram prediction model for the 14-year risk of type 2 diabetes in healthy East China residents: a retrospective cohort study from 15,166 participants

“…In addition, the studies have also shown that impaired liver function is associated with type 2 diabetes [30]. And CREA [31], WBC [32] and MCHC [33] are also related to type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the application of these parameters in our model appears to be well-founded.…”