Skeletal Muscle as a Therapeutic Target for Natural Products to Reverse Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Natural compounds, especially polyphenols have become a popular area of research mainly due to their apparent health benefits. Increasing the phenolic content of a diet, apart from its antioxidant benefit, has a beneficial effect on signaling molecules involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. These effects could potentially protect against metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic complications such as obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes that is characterized by a dysregulated carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. Research continues to investigate various natural compounds for their amelioration of impaired signaling mechanisms that may lead to dysregulated metabolism to find means to improve the life expectancy of patients with metabolic syndrome. In this chapter, a systematic search through major databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar of literature reporting on the ameliorative potential of commonly investigated natural products that target skeletal muscle to ameliorate metabolic syndrome associated complications was conducted. The selected natural products that are discussed include apigenin, aspalathin, berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, hesperidin, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin, resveratrol, rutin, and sulforaphane.compounds of plant origin have long been shown to possess strong ameliorative properties against various communicable and noncommunicable diseases [1,2]. For example, since its traditional use during the 1950s, artemisinin, an antimalarial qinghao derived lactone, has been the leading therapy for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria worldwide [3]. Similarly, the traditional use of galegine, an alkaloid isolated from Galega officinalis, led to the discovery of biguanide class of antidiabetic medications such as metformin [4]. Agents such as metformin are effective at lowering blood glucose levels and combating complications associated with insulin resistance (IR), the major characteristic of the metabolic syndrome [5]. However, the continued rise in the mortality of diabetic patients warrants an investigation into alternative therapies to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases. Naturally derived compounds such as polyphenols are increasingly explored for their therapeutic potential to reverse IR and thus decrease the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. This may eventually lead to an increased life expectancy of diabetic individuals [6]. Thus, due to its modulatory effect of glucose and lipid metabolism, skeletal muscle has been a target to a growing number of therapeutic interventions in an effort to reverse IR and improve the management of metabolic syndrome [7,8]. Here, we systematically assessed the available literature on the ameliorative potential of some of the prominent natural products against IR associated complications. A systematic search was conducted on all major databases such as MEDLINE/ PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, for available literature reporting on the ameliorative properties of some of the promi...

Corylifol A from Psoralea corylifolia L. Enhances Myogenesis and Alleviates Muscle Atrophy

“…Apigenin, abundant in parsley and celery, was reported to promote myogenesis and prevent muscle weakness via Prmt7-PGC-1α-GPR56 and Prmt7-p38-myoD pathways [41]. Luteolin also prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced muscle atrophy, partly through the regulation of MAFbx expression in vitro [7]. Resveratrol and isoflavones such as genistein and daidzein are also known to have the protective effect against muscle atrophy [42,43].…”

“…At present, there are no FDA-approved drugs for sarcopenia. Considering the reliability and stability of medicinal plants that have long been in use, their application as therapeutic agents for muscle atrophy has been suggested [7]. Indeed, we have reported on several myogenic compounds from medicinal plants that can be used to develop anti-myopathy drugs [8][9][10][11].…”

Nutraceuticals and Exercise against Muscle Wasting during Cancer Cachexia

“…Quercetin, found in many fruits, vegetables, and seeds, is another SIRT1 inducer that has given promising results in pre-clinical settings. Quercetin has the potential to reduce OS-induced damage by acting on the TNFα, AKT, PGC1α, and AMPK pathways (reviewed in [214]). In C2C12 cells, quercetin suppressed dexamethasone-induced expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1, and myostatin too, in a concentration-dependent manner [215].…”

Z-ajoene from Crushed Garlic Alleviates Cancer-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

“…Given that cancer cachexia is a multifactorial condition, multimodal therapeutic approaches, such as nutritional supplements that incorporate nutraceuticals, can be a strategy for the prevention and treatment of cachexia [3,4,15]. Growing evidence, including our previous reports, has highlighted the beneficial counteracting effects of several natural products on muscle atrophy [16].…”