title: Combination of Morroniside and Diosgenin Prevents High Glucose-Induced Cardiomyocytes Apoptosis.
abstract: Cornus officinalisandDioscorea oppositaare two traditional Chinese medicines widely used in China for treating diabetes mellitus and its complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy. Morroniside (Mor) ofCornus officinalisand diosgenin (Dio) ofDioscorea oppositaformed an innovative formula named M + D. The aims of the present study were to investigate myocardial protective effect of M + D on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) through the inhibition of expression levels of caspase-3 protein, and identify the advantage of M + D compared with Mor, Dio, and the positive drug metformin (Met). We detected cell viability, cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 protein in rat cardiomyocytes. In result, Mor, Dio, and M + D increased cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis and decreased ROS levels. Additionally, the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was modulated and the expression levels of caspase-3 protein were markedly decreased. Among the treatment groups, M + D produced the most prominent effects. In conclusion, our data showed for the first time that Mor, Dio, and M + D prevented high glucose (HG)-induced myocardial injury by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes. Among all the groups, M + D produced the strongest effect, while Mor and Dio produced weaker effects.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China. piwenxia@126.com.
authors.forename: Wen-Xia
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China. fxpen@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China. cocolihongye@126.com.
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for TCM Quality and Efficacy, College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China. bccai@126.com.
authors.forename: Bao-Chang
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000633:toxicity*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006027:Glycosides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C488401:morroniside; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D005947:Glucose; D004144:Diosgenin
keywords: Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 signaling pathway; cardiomyocytes; diabetic cardiomyopathy; diosgenin; morroniside