The hypoglycemic mechanism of catalpol involves increased AMPK-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis.

The hypoglycemic mechanism of catalpol involves increased AMPK-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2020 Jan 14;: Authors: Xu DQ, Li CJ, Jiang ZZ, Wang L, Huang HF, Li ZJ, Sun LX, Fan SS, Zhang LY, Wang T Abstract Mitochondria serve as sensors of energy regulation and glucose levels, which are impaired by diabetes progression. Catalpol is an iridoid glycoside that exerts a hypoglycemic effect by improving mitochondrial function, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the current study we explored the effects of catalpol on mitochondrial function in db/db mice and C2C12 myotubes in vitro. After oral administration of catalpol (200 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 8 weeks, db/db mice exhibited a decreased fasting blood glucose level and restored mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Catalpol increased mitochondrial biogenesis, evidenced by significant elevations in the number of mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA levels, and the expression of three genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaco-activator 1 (PGC-1α), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1). In C2C12 myotubes, catalpol significantly increased glucose uptake and ATP production. These effects depended on activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, catalpol improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial funct...
Source: Acta Pharmacologica Sinica - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Acta Pharmacol Sin Source Type: research