Astragalin Exerted Hypoglycemic Effect by Both Inhibiting α-Glucosidase and Modulating AMPK Signaling Pathway.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Nutraceuticals

Background:

• Mulberry leaf polyphenols are known for hypoglycemic activity, but their mechanisms require further investigation.
• Understanding the specific actions of compounds like astragalin is crucial for developing natural diabetes treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanism by which astragalin inhibits alpha-glucosidase.
• To explore the hypoglycemic pathway influenced by astragalin using a cellular model.

Main Methods:

• Multispectroscopic techniques and molecular docking were employed to study astragalin's interaction with alpha-glucosidase.
• A high-glucose human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell model was used to investigate the hypoglycemic effects.

Main Results:

• Astragalin demonstrated potent inhibition of alpha-glucosidase (IC50 = 154.5 µM) via a static quenching mechanism, altering enzyme structure.
• Molecular docking revealed specific hydrogen bonds between astragalin and alpha-glucosidase, with van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds as key interactions.
• Astragalin activated the Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, achieving optimal hypoglycemic effects at 80 µg/mL.

Conclusions:

• Astragalin exhibits significant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory and hypoglycemic activities.
• This research highlights the potential of astragalin-rich foods for managing diabetes mellitus.