Study on the Mechanism of Lupenone for Treating type 2 Diabetes by Integrating Pharmacological Evaluation and Network Pharmacology

Abstract

Background: Lupenone (LUP) is the active ingredient of Rhizoma Musae, which has good anti-diabetes effects, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, animal experiments combined with network pharmacology were used to explore the mechanism of LUP for treating diabetes. Methods: Type 2 diabetic rats with insulin resistance (IR) were induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. the fasting blood glucose (FBG), index of oxidative stress, blood lipids, and IR-related targets in skeletal muscle and adipose were detected. a network pharmacology-based strategy was also adopted to clarify the mechanism of LUP for treating diabetes by improving IR. Results: LUP decreased the FBG levels and synthesis of glycogen, improved oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorders, and increased the gene and protein expression of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, IRS-2, glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) in skeletal muscle and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, IRS-1, IRS-2, GLUT-4 in adipose. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that LUP improves IR by multiple targets (like INS, TP53, TNF, SRC and ESR1) and signal pathways. Conclusion: These results suggested that the mechanism of LUP for treating diabetes is closely related to improving IR. LUP has the potential to develop as a new drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of the Experience of Using Ointment Formula in the Treatment of Rheumatism in Chinese Medicine Books

“…In this prescription, yellowish translucent glue is used to boil into ointment, which is easy to stick to the skin by its adhesion. Studies have shown that yellowish translucent glue can protect immune organ damage and has a synergistic and attenuated effect [19][20].…”