MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE ANTIDIABETIC EFFECTS OF Mulinum spinosum ROOT DECOCTION

BERRUEZO S; PAVAROTTI MARTÍN A; ALVAREZ MS; SCAPINI C; CASTRO CLAUDIA

San Luis

Congreso; XXXIX Annual Meeting; 2021

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

A bitter decoction prepared from the root of Mulinum spinosum, popularly known as “neneo”, it is traditionally attributedantiglycemic properties. However, the molecular mechanisms that underline this effect remain unknown. The aim of thiswork was to analyze whether aqueous extracts from “neneo” roots enhance insulin sensitivity in in vivo experiments as apossible molecular mechanism. Cytotoxicity was tested in vascular smooth muscle cells using MTT tetrazolium reductionassay, and GLUT-4 translocation, as a measure of Insulin Sensitizing, was performed in L6 myoblast cell. As a diabeticanimal model, adult male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a 20% w/v fructose (Fru) in drinking water combined with 30%w/w high fat diet (HFD) over a period of 12 weeks. “Neneo” root extracts (3 or 6 g/kg/day) were administered in drinkingwater along with Fru-HFD. Mice were weighted weekly, glucose tolerance test was determined at the end of the treatmentperiod, and adipose tissue was collected after sacrifice. Translocation of GLUT4 from intercellular compartment toplasma membrane as surface level of GLUT4myc, was measured by an antibody-coupled assay. “Neneo” root extract(0.5–10 mg/mL) did not affect cell viability, only higher concentrations (20 and 50 mg/mL) significantly reduced 10%fetal calf serum-induced proliferation. In the presence of 25 nM insulin, GLUT4 quantification on the membrane cell ofL6 cells was higher than controls (P < 0.01). The addition of “neneo” root extract (1 mg/mL) during 60 min, significantlyenhanced translocation of insulin sensitive glucose transporters-4, in skeletal muscle cells (P < 0.05). After 10 weeks,mice fed a Fru-HFD treated with “neneo” significant decreased body weight gain compared to the Fru-HFD group (P