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Hypoglycemic Effects of Licochalcone A on the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice and Its Mechanism Study

Zhonghua Luo1, Chaofan Fu1, Tao Li1

  • 1Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|February 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Licochalcone A (LicA) effectively lowers blood glucose and improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) models. This natural compound shows promise as a nutritional agent for managing T2DM by enhancing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic disorders
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural product research

Background:

  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion.
  • Current management strategies for T2DM often require lifelong treatment and can have side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of licochalcone A (LicA) in a mouse model of T2DM.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of LicA's therapeutic action, focusing on insulin signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of T2DM in mice using a high-fat diet and streptozocin.
  • Administration of varying doses of LicA to T2DM mice.
  • Assessment of metabolic parameters including blood glucose, serum lipids, and body weight.
  • Oral glucose tolerance tests and histological examination of pancreatic and liver tissues.
  • Network pharmacology analysis and verification of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • LicA significantly reduced insulin resistance index, blood glucose, and serum lipid levels in T2DM mice.
  • LicA treatment ameliorated T2DM symptoms such as excessive thirst, appetite, urination, and weight loss.
  • Improvements were observed in oral glucose tolerance, pancreatic islet cell damage, and liver enlargement.
  • Network pharmacology identified the insulin signal transduction pathway as a key mediator, with PI3K/Akt pathway verification showing LicA up-regulates IRS-2/PI3K/AKT signaling in the liver and pancreas.

Conclusions:

  • Licochalcone A demonstrates significant potential in improving insulin signaling, protecting islet cells, reducing blood glucose, and alleviating lipid disorders in T2DM.
  • The therapeutic effects of LicA are closely linked to its ability to up-regulate the IRS-2/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the liver and pancreas.
  • High-dose LicA exhibited the most pronounced effects, suggesting its potential as a nutritional agent for T2DM management.
Keywords:
hypoglycemichypolipidemiclicochalcone Amechanismtype 2 diabetes mellitus

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