Role of Artesunate on cardiovascular complications in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of artesunate (ART) on the reduction of cardiovascular complications in a type 1 diabetes model and to investigate the associated mechanism based on the receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE)/NF-κB signaling pathway. Methods A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: The healthy, diabetic, 50 mg/kg ART (ig) treatment diabetic, 100 mg/kg ART (ig) treatment diabetic, and 6 U/kg insulin (iH) treatment diabetic groups. The treatment lasted 4 weeks after the diabetic model was established via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Blood samples were collected, and cardiovascular tissues were harvested and processed to measure various parameters after the animals were sacrificed. The myocardium and aortic arch tissues were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining. Expression levels of RAGE, NF-κB, matrix metalloproteinase MMP9, MMP1 and CD68 in the myocardium and aortic arch tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Results The results of the present study demonstrated that ART treatment may restrain diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications by maintaining heart and body weight while reducing blood glucose, as well as regulating blood lipid indicators to normal level (P < 0.05). The expression levels of NF-κB, CD68, MMP1, MMP9 and RAGE were decreased in the ART-treated diabetic rats (P < 0.05). Conclusions ART treatment may have a protective role against diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications in diabetic rats by inhibiting the expression of proteins in the RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway and downstream inflammatory factors. High concentrations of ART had a hypoglycemic effect, while a low concentration of ART prevented cardiovascular complications.

Artesunate Combined With Metformin Ameliorate on Diabetes-Induced Xerostomia by Mitigating Superior Salivatory Nucleus and Salivary Glands Injury in Type 2 Diabetic Rats via the PI3K/AKT Pathway

“…Rats in ART-treated, Met-treated, and ART/Met co-treated diabetic groups were treated with ART alone (50 mg/kg; Guilin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Guilin, China), Met alone (150 mg/kg; Shenzhen Neptune Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China), and ART (50 mg/kg) combined with Met (150 mg/kg), respectively, whereas the non-diabetic control and untreated diabetic rats received equivalent doses of saline. Notably, the administered ART and Met doses were in accordance with previous studies ( Cai et al, 2018 ; Bradley et al, 2019 ; Inyang et al, 2019 ; Chen et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Importantly, ART is not only able to pass through the blood-brain barrier and maintain a high concentration in the brain ( Zhao and Song, 1989 ; Zuo et al, 2016 ), but is also able to adjust glucose homeostasis against diabetes and its complications ( Sun et al, 2018 ; Xu et al, 2019 ; Maurya et al, 2021 ). Moreover, our previous study also showed that ART controlled blood glucose levels and prevented cardiovascular complications in diabetic rats ( Chen et al, 2021 ). However, to date, no study has investigated effects of ART alone or in combination with Met against diabetic xerostomia and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.…”

Exploring the protective effects of herbal monomers against diabetic retinopathy based on the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis: A review

“…[38,39] ART can be used in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cardiovascular complications. [40–42] In addition, ART reduced retinal thickness in diabetic rats significantly and attenuated retinal inflammation in diabetic rats through AMPK/Sirt1-mediated autophagy. [43] Activation of adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) can induce autophagy by directly suppressing the phosphorylation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR).…”

Artesunate Alleviates Kidney Fibrosis in Type 1 Diabetes with Periodontitis Rats via Promoting Autophagy and Suppression of Inflammation

“…Artesunate (ART, C 19 H 28 O 8 , molecular weight 384.42), a derivative of artemisinin, has been widely used in clinical practice orally and intravenously as a safe and effective antimalarial drug . Previous studies from our lab have revealed that ART plays important roles in immune status, anti-inflammation response, blood glucose, and inhibition of bone resorption . However, whether ART regulates the occurrence and development of DKD by regulating the level of autophagy remains unknown.…”

“… 21 Previous studies from our lab have revealed that ART plays important roles in immune status, 22 anti-inflammation response, blood glucose, 23 and inhibition of bone resorption. 24 However, whether ART regulates the occurrence and development of DKD by regulating the level of autophagy remains unknown. We established a rat model of diabetes with periodontitis to explore whether periodontitis could affect the progression of DKD through the dysbiosis of microbiota.…”