Affiliation:
1. Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes and Its Complications (SZX2020015), Traditional Chinese Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
Abstract
Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a persistent metabolic condition resulting from insufficient insulin or insulin resistance, which gives rise to diverse complications endangering human well-being. Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) have various pharmacological effects, potentially benefiting clinical comprehensive kidney and cardiovascular protection. Nevertheless, the potential protective effect of SZ-A on myocardial injury in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unexplored. Materials and Methods Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups, including control, model, metformin, and SZ-A. The establishment of the type 2 diabetes model was initiated by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) along with a diet of high glucose and fat. Following a 12-week period of treatment, measurements were taken for heart mass index (HMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG). Additionally, serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), indicators of myocardial injury, and oxidative stress were assessed. The expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p-mTOR, beclin-1, and LC3 in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blot. Results The administration of SZ-A effectively reduced the levels of HMI, FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB) in rats with type 2 diabetes while enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Additionally, SZ-A could improve myocardial tissue arrangement structure and fibrosis degree. Additional analysis revealed that SZ-A suppressed the activation of p-mTOR while enhancing the levels of Beclin-1 and LC3, suggesting that the potential therapeutic impact of SZ-A on myocardial damage could be attributed to its ability to regulate autophagy, thereby mitigating oxidative stress. Conclusion In summary, the results indicate that SZ-A might possess inhibitory properties against myocardial damage in rats with type 2 diabetes, presenting a potential therapeutic approach in the clinic.