Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4026
Forsythoside A attenuates metabolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice by inhibiting the MAPK and activating the Nrf2 signalling pathways
Mengxian Shu
; Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Department of Pulmonology and Endocrinology, Enshi City, China
Chunhui Xiang
; Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Department of Neurosurgery, Enshi City, China
Sažetak
Forsythoside A, a natural phenylethanoid glycoside extracted from the weeping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa), exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activity, including antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study was to determine its anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidative effects in a diabetic mouse model (created by administering highfat diet alongside successive low doses of streptozotocin) by measuring fasting blood glucose levels, body weight, food and water intake, oxidative stress, and histopathological changes. Diabetic mice received either forsythoside A (30 or 60 mg/kg bw) or metformin (150 mg/kg) as standard type 2 diabetes medication for comparison. After four weeks of administration, forsythoside A significantly increased body weight and reduced food and water intake at both doses, while the higher, 60 mg/kg dose also significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and had a similar effect on all these parameters as metformin. The higher, 60 mg/kg dose also had similar antioxidative effects as metformin in lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in elevating the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) levels. Moreover, at 60 mg/kg forsythoside A attenuated lipid accumulation in diabetic mice by elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowering total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), showing comparable effect to metformin. Similar improvements were observed by histopathological changes in the liver. Forsythoside A also lowered insulin levels in diabetic mice by up-regulating p-IRS-1 and inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by lowering the expressions of the p-p38 and p-JNK proteins. At the same time, it promoted the Nrf2 pathway by increasing Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions relative to untreated diabetic mice. In conclusion, forsythoside A demonstrated therapeutic effects akin to those of 150 mg/kg metformin and may be a promising candidate for clinical application.
Ključne riječi
body weight; catalase; cholesterol; glucose; glutathione peroxidase; HO-1; insulin; malondialdehyde; metformin; reactive oxygen species; superoxide dismutase; triglycerides
Hrčak ID:
345666
URI
Datum izdavanja:
23.3.2026.
Posjeta: 266 *