Illicium verum extract attenuates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy by modulating inflammatory and anabolic...

Illicium verum Hook. f. (star anise) is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to warm the interior and regulate qi flow to treat functional imbalances. While implying a role in restoring homeostasis, its therapeutic potential against skeletal muscle atrophy, characterized by metabolic and inflammatory disruption, remains scientifically unverified.

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of I. verum hot water extract (IVW) against muscle atrophy using tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated myotubes and an immobilization-induced mouse model.

IVW, chemically characterized with shikimic acid as a marker, was evaluated in TNF-α-stimulated L6 myotubes and C57BL/6J mice subjected to 7-day hindlimb immobilization followed by oral administration. Muscle mass, function, and key signaling pathways governing protein synthesis and degradation were analyzed.

IVW treatment significantly preserved muscle mass, myofiber cross-sectional area, grip strength, and exercise endurance in immobilized mice. Mechanistically, IVW reactivated anabolic signaling mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), while suppressing inflammation driven by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and ubiquitin-proteasome degradation dependent on forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) in both models.

IVW mitigates immobilization-induced atrophy, associated with the dual regulation of anabolic and catabolic pathways. These findings provide a modern pharmacological basis for the traditional use of I. verum in treating functional imbalances, highlighting its potential as a candidate for managing disuse-induced muscle wasting.