Protective Effects of Serum Containing Tibetan Medicine Jiangtangle on Mitochondrial Function in RIN-m5F Pancreatic β-Cells.

β-cell failure caused by mitochondrial dysfunction is the core feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tibetan medicine Jiangtangle, composed of Berberis kansuensis, Curcumaelongae Rhizoma, Malvae Fructus, Tribuli Fructus, Thlaspi arvense L., and Phyllanthus emblica L., can be used to remedy T2DM. However, its effects on mitochondrial function remain unclear. This study aims to clarify the pharmacological effects of Tibetan medicine Jiangtangle on mitochondria. At 7 days after pre-administration of Tibetan medicine Jiangtangle, rat serum was obtained by abdominal aorta blood collection. Rat pancreatic islet β-cells (RIN-m5F) were divided into control, model, and Jiangtangle-containing serum groups. The model and Jiangtangle-containing serum groups were induced for injury with DMEM medium containing 50 mM glucose for 24 h. The control group was treated with DMEM medium containing no glucose for 24 h. Then, medium was added to the control and model groups, while Jiangtangle-containing serum groups were incubated for 24 h with medium containing 2.5%, 5%, and 10% Jiangtangle-containing serum. The results of UPLC-ESI-Q-Orbitrap-MS indicated 90 compounds in Jiangtangle, among which 6 prototypical compounds entering the blood. CCK 8 was used to measure cell viability, Seahorse XFe was employed to evaluate mitochondrial energy metabolism and the effect of Jiangtangle-containing serum on the RIN-m5F cells hyperglycemic model was evaluated. Jiangtangle-containing serum augmented RIN-m5F cell viability, mitochondrial ATP level, glycolytic ATP level, basal glycolysis, compensatory glycolysis, OCR, proton leak, and maximal respiration.