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TLC chromatograms of each sample compound and references: (a) UV 254 nm, (b) FeCl3, (c) 10% H2SO4, (d) ρ-Anisaldehyde H2SO4. The eluent system used was chloroform/methanol/water = 70:30:4 (v/v/v). ① catechin 7-O-β-D apiofuranoside, ② Ulmus macrocarpa Hance extract (UME).
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Aging leads to tissue and cellular changes, often driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to age-related diseases. Our research focuses on harnessing the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Korean Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a traditional herbal remedy, to address muscle loss and atrophy. We evaluated the effect...
Citations
... In our previous studies, we validated the biological activity of Ulmus macrocarpa extract against muscle atrophy and conducted preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies [48,49]. Based on our in vitro findings of AJHW against muscle loss and muscle atrophy, our goal was to confirm the efficacy of AJHW in ameliorating sarcopenia through rigorous in vivo studies [61]. ...
... In the grip strength test, the muscle atrophy control group (G2) exhibited a 58% reduction in grip strength compared to the normal control group (G1), while the AJHW 100 mg/kg treatment group (G5) showed about 20% more grip strength recovery than the muscle atrophy control group (G2). Compared to a prior Ulmus macrocarpa extract trial, which resulted in 14% grip strength recovery with 200 mg/kg treatment, AJHW demonstrated enhanced efficacy [49]. Additionally, the 100 mg/kg treatment group (G4) displayed more than 45% improved exercise capacity compared to the muscle atrophy control group (G2). ...
... Additionally, the 100 mg/kg treatment group (G4) displayed more than 45% improved exercise capacity compared to the muscle atrophy control group (G2). Conversely, an earlier Ulmus macrocarpa experiment identified approximately 43% improvement in the 100 mg/kg treatment group compared to the control group [49], and a Alnus japonica 50% EtOH extract treatment at 200 mg/kg was reported to increase exercise capacity by about 35% in comparison with the control group [47]. Therefore, the results indicate that AJHW is considerably more effective than other extracts in enhancing muscle strength and exercise capacity. ...
This study investigates the effects of pilot scale Alnus japonica hot water extract (AJHW) on muscle loss and muscle atrophy. Building on previous in vitro studies, in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate muscle strength, mass, fiber size, protein synthesis, and antioxidant activity. The results showed that AJHW significantly restored muscle strength, increased muscle mass, enhanced the expression of muscle synthesis markers, such as Akt and mTOR, and apoptosis inhibition markers, such as Bcl-2, compared to the muscle atrophy control. Muscle degradation markers, such as Atrogin1, MuRF1, FoxO3α, and the apoptosis activation marker Bax, were decreased compared to the muscle atrophy control. Additionally, AJHW significantly boosted the activity of antioxidant factors like SOD, catalase, and Gpx, suggesting its protective role against oxidative stress-induced muscle damage. The enhanced effects were attributed to the high content of hirsutanonol and hirsutenone, which synergized with oregonin, compounds, identified through phytochemical analysis. While these findings support the potential of AJHW as a candidate for preventing muscle loss, further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy across diverse atrophy models and to elucidate its exact mechanisms.
... Data analysis was conducted using the Rotor-Gene 6000 series System Soft program version 6 (Corbett). The relative expression levels of the target mRNA were normalized to that of the housekeeping protein glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) [10]. Table 1. ...
... In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Ulmus macrocarpa extract, including catechin compounds known to have antioxidant, anti-diabetic [57], and anti-obesity effects [58], can prevent and inhibit muscle loss and atrophy. In addition, since the muscle loss prevention effect of Ulmus macrocarpa extract was verified in a recent in vivo experiment [10], it is thought that Ulmus macrocarpa extract can be utilized as a key ingredient in the development of functional foods and health supplements for preventing muscle loss and atrophy and sarcopenic obesity in diabetic patients in the future. ...
Muscle atrophy is known to be one of the symptoms leading to sarcopenia, which significantly impacts the quality of life, mortality, and morbidity. Therefore, the development of therapeutics for muscle atrophy is essential. This study focuses on addressing muscle loss and atrophy using Ulmus macrocarpa extract and its marker compound, catechin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranoside, by investigating their effects on biomarkers associated with muscle cell apoptosis. Additionally, protein and gene expression in a muscle atrophy model were examined using Western blotting and RT-PCR. Ulmus macrocarpa has been used as food or medicine due to its safety, including its roots, barks, and fruit. Catechin 7-O-β-D apiofuranoside is an indicator substance of plants of the Ulmus genus and has been reported to have various effects such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The experimental results demonstrated that catechin glycoside and Ulmus macrocarpa extract decreased the expression of the muscle-degradation-related proteins Atrogin-1 and Muscle RING-Finger protein-1 (MuRF1) while increasing the expression of the muscle-synthesis-related proteins Myoblast determination (MyoD) and Myogenin. Gene expression confirmation experiments validated a decrease in the expression of Atrogin and MuRF1 mRNA and an increase in the expression of MyoD and Myogenin mRNA. Furthermore, an examination of muscle protein expression associated with the protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway confirmed a decrease in the expression of FoxO, a regulator of muscle protein degradation. These results confirm the potential of Ulmus macrocarpa extract to inhibit muscle apoptosis, prevent muscle decomposition, and promote the development of functional materials for muscle synthesis, health-functional foods, and natural-product-derived medicines.
This study investigates the effectiveness of quercetin (QUE) in preventing sarcopenia via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Thirty SD rats were categorized into three groups: a young control group (Y), an old control group (O), and an old QUE-supplemented group (O + QUE). Body weight and grip strength were monitored weekly during the experiment. Soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weights, gastrocnemius tissue pathological examination, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage were evaluated using HE, TUNEL staining, electron microscopy, and JC-1 staining. Biochemical assays and molecular biology techniques (qPCR and Western blot) were used to assess oxidative stress markers and the expression of sarcopenia-related genes and proteins. QUE supplementation increased muscle weight and improved grip strength in aged rats. Furthermore, QUE supplementation alleviated tissue damage, apoptosis, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and decreased damage to oxidative stress and mitochondria in the gastrocnemius of old rats. Molecular assessments revealed downregulation of muscle degradation markers (MuRF1, Atrogen-1, Bnip3) and upregulation of PI3K/AKT pathway proteins, suggesting a mechanistic pathway through which QUE mitigates sarcopenia. QUE maybe modulate the PI3K/AKT pathway to alleviate oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and muscle degradation due to aging, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent against sarcopenia.
