Antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic properties of S. Y. Hu leaves in experimental animals: modulation of thioredoxin and glutathione systems, renal water reabsorption, and gut microbiota.

INTRODUCTION

Excessive calorie intake and physical inactivity have dramatically increased nutrient overload-associated disease, becoming a global public health issue. S. Y. Hu () is a homology plant of food and medicine in China and shows several health benefits.

METHODS

This work investigated the antioxidant activity, the alleviating effects, and the mechanism of action on diabetes and hyperlipidemia of leaves.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results showed that leaves infusion displayed antioxidant activity measured by ABTS and ferric reducing antioxidant power methods. In wild-type Kunming mice, leaves infusion consumption activated the hepatic antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione reductase, glutathione -transferase, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase as well as thioredoxin reductase 1. In alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic mice, leaves infusion ameliorated diabetic symptoms, including polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and hyperglycemia, in a dose-dependent and time-course manners. The mechanism involved leaves up-regulating renal water reabsorption associated protein - urine transporter A1-and promoting the trafficking of urine transporter A1 and aquaporin 2 to the apical plasma membrane. Despite this, in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic golden hamsters, leaves powder did not significantly effect on hyperlipidemia and body weight gain. This might be attributed to leaves powder increasing the calorie intake. Interestingly, we found that leaves extract containing a lower dose of total flavonoid than leaves powder pronouncedly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum in golden hamsters fed a high-fat diet. Furthermore, leaves extract elevated the diversity of gut microbiota and the abundance of and It also decreased the abundance of at the genus level in golden hamsters fed a high-fat diet. Overall, leaves benefit oxidative stress prevention and metabolic syndrome amelioration