Effects of heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum on high-fat diet-fed mice of obesity and functional analysis on network pharmacology and molecular docking strategy

Hypolipidemic effect and gut microbiota regulation of Gypenoside aglycones in rats fed a high-fat diet

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino has traditional applications in Chinese medicine to treat lipid abnormalities. Gypenosides (GPs), the main bioactive components of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, have been reported to exert hypolipidemic effects through multiple mechanisms. The lipid-lowering effects of GPs may be attributed to the aglycone portion resulting from hydrolysis of GPs by the gut microbiota. However, to date, there have been no reports on whether gypenoside aglycones (Agl), the primary bioactive constituents, can ameliorate hyperlipidemia by modulating the gut microbiota.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study explored the potential therapeutic effects of gypenoside aglycone (Agl) in a rat model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia.

METHODS

A hyperlipidemic rat model was established by feeding rats with a high-fat diet. Agl was administered orally, and serum lipid levels were analyzed. Molecular techniques, including RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fecal microbiota sequencing, were used to investigate the effects of Agl on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition.

RESULTS

Agl administration significantly reduced serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and mitigated hepatic damage induced by HFD. Molecular investigations have revealed the modulation of key lipid metabolism genes and proteins by Agl. Notably, Agl treatment enriched the gut microbiota with beneficial genera, including Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Blautia and promoted specific shifts in Lactobacillus murinus, Firmicutes bacterium CAG:424, and Allobaculum stercoricanis.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive study established Agl as a promising candidate for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. It also exhibits remarkable hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective properties. The modulation of lipid metabolism-related genes, along with the restoration of gut microbiota balance, provides mechanistic insights. Thus, Agl has great potential for clinical applications in hyperlipidemia management.

Heat stroke-induced cerebral cortex nerve injury by mitochondrial dysfunction: A comprehensive multi-omics profiling analysis

In recent years, global warming has led to frequent instances of extremely high temperatures during summer, arousing significant concern about the adverse effects of high temperature. Among these, heat stroke is the most serious, which has detrimental effects on the all organs of human body, especially on brain. However, the comprehensive pathogenesis leading to brain damage remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of heat stroke and conducted multi-omics profiling to identify relevant pathogenesis induced by heat stroke. The mice were placed in a constant temperature chamber at 42 °C with a humidity of 50 %, and the criteria for success in modeling were that the rectal temperature reached 42 °C and that the mice were trembling. Then the mice were immediately taken out for further experiments. Firstly, we conducted cFos protein localization and identified the cerebral cortex, especially the anterior cingulate cortex as the region exhibiting the most pronounced damage. Secondly, we performed metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics analysis on cerebral cortex. This multi-omics investigation unveiled noteworthy alterations in proteins and metabolites within pathways associated with neurotransmitter systems, heatstroke-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, encompassing histidine and pentose phosphate metabolic pathways, as well as oxidative stress. In addition, the cerebral cortex exhibited pronounced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, alongside significant downregulation of the mitochondrial outer membrane protein Tomm40 and mitochondrial permeability transition pore, implicating cerebral cortex mitochondrial dysfunction as the primary instigator of neural impairment. This study marks a significant milestone as the first to employ multi-omics analysis in exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying heat stroke-induced damage in cerebral cortex neurons. It comprehensively identifies all potentially impacted pathways by heat stroke, laying a solid foundation for ensuing research endeavors. Consequently, this study introduces a fresh angle to clinical approaches in heatstroke prevention and treatment, as well as establishes an innovative groundwork for shaping future-forward environmental policies.

Saponins as therapeutic candidates for atherosclerosis

Drug development for atherosclerosis, the underlying pathological state of ischemic cardiovascular diseases, has posed a longstanding challenge. Saponins, classified as steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, have shown promising therapeutic potential in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Through an exhaustive examination of scientific literature spanning from May 2013 to May 2023, we identified 82 references evaluating 37 types of saponins in terms of their prospective impacts on atherosclerosis. These studies suggest that saponins have the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism, inhibiting inflammation, suppressing apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, as well as regulating gut microbiota, autophagy, endothelial senescence, and angiogenesis. Notably, ginsenosides exhibit significant potential and manifest essential pharmacological attributes, including lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxidative stress effects. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the pharmacological attributes of saponins in atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on their role in the regulation of lipid metabolism regulation and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, saponins may warrant further investigation as a potential therapy for atherosclerosis. However, due to various reasons such as low oral bioavailability, the clinical application of saponins in the treatment of atherosclerosis still needs further exploration.

Saponins derived from Gynostemma pentaphyllum regulate triglyceride and cholesterol metabolism and the mechanisms: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (G. pentaphyllum) can be used for both medicinal and tea and has lipid-lowering properties. Modern research has shown that its main bioactive components are flavonoids and saponins. It has many beneficial effects such as hypolipidemic, anti-cancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed to summarize its anti-glycolipid metabolic models and mechanisms are reviewed to facilitate a deeper understanding of the mechanism in lowering lipids.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information related to lipid lowering in G. pentaphyllum was collated by reviewing the relevant literature in the PubMed database from 1985 to 2023.

RESULTS

Only 101 G. pentaphyllum compounds have been initially explored for their hypolipidemic activity. There are cell models, animal models and human subjects for lipid-lowering of it. It reduced triglyceride level via PPAR/UCP-1/PGC-1α/PRDM16 and (SREBP-1c)-ACC/FAS-CPT1 signal pathways. Cholesterol-lowering effects via (SREBP-2)-HMGCR, PCSK9-LDLR and bile acid biosynthetic pathways. Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key factor in the regulation of glycolipid metabolism in G. pentaphyllum. Other pathways of action of G. pentaphyllum in regulating glucolipid metabolism are also discussed in this paper.

CONCLUSION

To date, more than 328 saponins have been isolated and identified in Gynostemma. Further studies on these components, including molecular mechanisms and in vivo metabolic regulation, need to be further confirmed. G. pentaphyllum has the potential to be developed into drugs or functional foods, but further research is needed.

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Increases Exercise Performance and Alters Mitochondrial Respiration and AMPK in Healthy Males

This research aimed to determine the effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) on exercise performance, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mitochondrial signaling in human muscle. This randomized double-blind placebo control crossover study provided placebo or 450 mg of G. pentaphyllum dried leaf extract equivalent to 2.25 g of dry leaf per day for four weeks to 16 healthy untrained young males, separated by four weeks wash-out. Following 4-week supplementation with G. pentaphyllum, participants had significantly lower leptin and blood glucose levels and improved time trial performance over 20 km, which corresponded with a higher muscle oxygen flux compared to placebo. Muscle AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation significantly increased after 60 min exercise following G. pentaphyllum supplementation. AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation levels relative to total AMPK increased earlier following exercise with G. pentaphyllum compared to placebo. Total ACC-α was lower following G. pentaphyllum supplementation compared to placebo. While further research is warranted, G. pentaphyllum supplementation improved exercise performance in healthy untrained males, which corresponded with improved mitochondrial respiration, altered AMPK and ACC, and decreased plasma leptin and glucose levels.

Protective effect of heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum on high fat diet-induced glucose metabolic disorders mice

Glucose metabolic disorders (GMD) can promote insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes, and damage liver and kidney. Gynostemma pentaphyllum is commonly used in the clinical treatment of diabetes, but the research on its main active constituents and GMD has not been reported yet. This study explores the therapeutic potential of gypenosides of heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum (HGyp) on high-fat diet-induced GMD in mice. HGyp was administered at different doses for 12 weeks. The investigation encompassed an array of parameters, including body weight, blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver tissue components. Metabolomic and network analyses were conducted to uncover potential targets and pathways associated with HGyp treatment. The results revealed that HGyp alleviated GMD by reducing body weight, blood glucose, and improving blood lipids levels, while increasing liver glycogen and antioxidant enzyme levels. Additionally, HGyp exhibited protective effects on liver and kidney health by reducing tissue damage. Fourteen blood components were detected by LC-MS. Metabolomic and network analyses indicated the potential engagement of the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in the therapeutic effects of HGyp.Furthermore, Western blot and ELISA assays confirmed that HGyp upregulated GLO1 and GLUT4 while down-regulating AGEs and RAGE expression in liver tissue. In light of these findings, HGyp demonstrates promise as a potential therapeutic candidate for combating GMD, warranting further exploration in the development of therapeutic strategies or functional products.

Gypenosides suppress hepatocellular carcinoma cells by blocking cholesterol biosynthesis through inhibition of MVA pathway enzyme HMGCS1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality. Targeting abnormal cholesterol metabolism is a potential therapeutic direction. Therefore, more natural drugs targeting cholesterol in HCC need to be developed. Gypenosides (Gyp), the major constituent of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, has been demonstrated to have pharmacological properties on anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective. We investigated whether Gyp, isolated and purified by our lab, could inhibit HCC progression by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis. The present research showed that Gyp inhibited proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis in Huh-7 and Hep3B cells. Metabolomics, transcriptomics, and target prediction all suggested that lipid metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis were the mechanisms of Gyp. Gyp could limit the production of cholesterol and target HMGCS1, the cholesterol synthesis-related protein. Downregulation of HMGCS1 could suppress the progression and abnormal cholesterol metabolism of HCC. In terms of mechanism, Gyp suppressed mevalonate (MVA) pathway mediated cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting HMGCS1 transcription factor SREBP2. And the high expression of HMGCS1 in HCC human specimens was correlated with poor clinical prognosis. The data suggested that Gyp could be a promising cholesterol-lowering drug for the prevention and treatment of HCC. And targeting SREBP2-HMGCS1 axis in MVA pathway might be an effective HCC therapeutic strategy.

Liver lipidomics analysis reveals the anti-obesity and lipid-lowering effects of gypnosides from heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum in high-fat diet fed mice

BACKGROUND

In traditional Chinese medicine, Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) is widely used to treat conditions associated with hyperlipidemia, and its therapeutic potential has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, the mechanism of lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic by G. pentaphyllum, especially heat-processed G. pentaphyllum is not yet clear.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of gypenosides from heat-processed G. pentaphyllum (HGyp) in hyperlipidemic mice by means of a lipidomics.

METHODS

The content of the major components of HGyp was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). An animal model of hyperlipidaemia was constructed using C57BL/6J mice fed with high-fat diet. HGyp was also administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, all for 12 weeks. Serum parameters were measured, histological sections were prepared and liver lipidome analysis using UPLC-MS coupled with multivariate statistical analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to analyze the genes and proteins associated with lipid lowering in HGyp.

RESULTS

HGyp reduced body weight, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and hepatic lipid accumulation in hyperlipidemic obese mice. To explore specific changes in lipid metabolism in relation to HGyp administration, lipid analysis of the liver was performed. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) score plots showed that HGyp altered lipid metabolism in HFD mice. In particular, fatty acids (FA), triglycerides (DG), TG and ceramides (CER) were significantly altered. Eleven lipids were identified as potential lipid biomarkers, namely TG (18:2/20:5/18:2), TG (18:2/18:3/20:4), DG (18:3/20:0/0:0), Cer (d18:1/19:0), Cer (d16:1/23:0), Ceramide (d18:1/9Z-18:1), PS (19:0/18:3), PS (20:2/0:0), LysoPC (22:5), LysoPE (0:0/18:0), PE (24:0/16:1). Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that these metabolic improvements played a role by down-regulating genes and proteins related to fat production (SREBP1, ACC1, SCD1), up-regulating genes and proteins related to lipid oxidation (CPTA1, PPARα) and lipid transport decomposition in the bile acid pathway (LXRα, PPARγ, FXR, BSEP).

CONCLUSION

The lipid-lowering effect of gypenosides from heat-processed G. pentaphyllum is regulate lipid homeostasis and metabolism.

Increasing brain glucose uptake by Gypenoside LXXV ameliorates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of diabetic Alzheimer's disease

We have previously reported that Gypenoside LXXV (GP-75), a novel natural PPARγ agonist isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, ameliorated cognitive deficits in db/db mice. In this study, we further investigated the beneficial effects on cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice and a mouse model of diabetic AD (APP/PS1xdb/db mice). Interestingly, intragastric administration of GP-75 (40 mg/kg/day) for 3 months significantly attenuated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice. GP-75 treatment markedly reduced the levels of glucose, HbA1c and insulin in serum and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Notably, GP-75 treatment decreased the β-amyloid (Aβ) burden, as measured by ¹¹ C-PIB PET imaging. Importantly, GP-75 treatment increased brain glucose uptake as measured by ¹⁸ F-FDG PET imaging. Moreover, GP-75 treatment upregulated PPARγ and increased phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and GLUT4 expression levels but decreased phosphorylation of IRS-1 (Ser616) in the hippocampi of both APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Furthermore, GP-75-induced increases in GLUT4 membrane translocation in primary hippocampal neurons from APP/PS1xdb/db mice was abolished by cotreatment with the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. In summary, GP-75 ameliorated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice by enhancing glucose uptake via activation of the PPARγ/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathways.

Advances in the Bioactivities of Phytochemical Saponins in the Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by hardening and narrowing of arteries. AS leads to a number of arteriosclerotic vascular diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease, which pose a big threat to human health. Phytochemicals are a variety of intermediate or terminal low molecular weight secondary metabolites produced during plant energy metabolism. Phytochemicals from plant foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains) and traditional herb plants have been shown to exhibit multiple bioactivities which are beneficial for prevention and treatment against AS. Many types of phytochemicals including polyphenols, saponins, carotenoids, terpenoids, organic sulfur compounds, phytoestrogens, phytic acids and plant sterols have already been identified, among which saponins are a family of glycosidic compounds consisting of a hydrophobic aglycone (sapogenin) linked to hydrophilic sugar moieties. In recent years, studies have shown that saponins exhibit a number of biological activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, cholesterol-lowering, immunomodulation, anti-platelet aggregation, etc., which are helpful in the prevention and treatment of AS. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in the anti-atherosclerotic bioactivities of saponins such as ginsenoside, soyasaponin, astra-galoside, glycyrrhizin, gypenoside, dioscin, saikosaponin, etc.