Publication Highlight: Wheat Seedling Extract Ameliorates Sarcopenia in Aged Mice by Regulating Protein Synthesis and Degradation with Anti-Inflammatory and Mitochondrial Biogenesis Effects
Published in ScienceDirect (July 2024)
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-2418
Ji-Won Hanᵃ ᵇ ¹, Su‑Kyung Shinᵃ ᵇ ¹, Heekyong R. Baeᵃ ᵇ, HanGyeol Leeᶜ, So Yeon Moonᶜ, Woo Duck Seoᶜ, Eun‑Young Kwonᵇ
Wheat Seedling Extract Shows Promise in Combating Age-Related Sarcopenia
Overview:
A new preclinical study published in Phytomedicine explores the potential of wheat seedling extract (WSE) to mitigate sarcopenia in aged mice. The extract, rich in active compounds isoorientin (ISO) and isoschaftoside (ISS), demonstrated the ability to enhance muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and support mitochondrial function, key factors in the prevention and treatment of age-related muscle loss.
Study Design:
Researchers administered different doses of WSE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) to aged mice over a 10-week period. Outcomes were compared to both young and untreated aged controls. Evaluation methods included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), grip strength tests, histological staining, gene and protein expression analysis, and C2C12 muscle cell assays.
Key Findings:
- Improved Body Composition and Muscle Mass
WSE, particularly at 200 mg/kg, significantly reduced fat mass and increased lean mass in aged mice, as confirmed by DXA imaging and muscle dissection. - Enhanced Muscle Quality and Strength
Grip strength improved in all WSE-treated groups, with WSE200 showing the most consistent effects. Muscle protein content increased, while triglyceride and fatty acid content decreased in key muscle tissues. - Protein Synthesis and Degradation Regulation
WSE activated protein synthesis pathways (e.g., IGF-1R, AKT, mTOR) and suppressed protein degradation markers (e.g., Myostatin, Murf1, Atrogin), supporting muscle maintenance at the molecular level. - Reduced Inflammation and Improved Mitochondrial Biogenesis
WSE lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) and enhanced anti-inflammatory markers and mitochondrial regulators such as PGC1α, SIRT3, and p-AMPK. - C2C12 Cell Validation: WSE, ISO, and ISS Reduce Muscle Atrophy
In vitro experiments using TNFα-treated muscle cells showed that WSE, ISO, and ISS preserved muscle cell structure and restored key myogenic markers, confirming their role in suppressing inflammation and boosting mitochondrial function.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that 200 mg/kg of wheat seedling extract is a promising intervention for preventing sarcopenia, with effects driven by reduced inflammation, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, and better protein homeostasis. These benefits were also reflected in in vitro assays, affirming the therapeutic potential of ISO and ISS as functional food ingredients for age-related muscle loss.
References
Han, J.-W., Shin, S.-K., Bae, H. R., Lee, H., Moon, S. Y., Seo, W. D., & Kwon, E.-Y. (2024). Wheat seedlings extract ameliorates sarcopenia in aged mice by regulating protein synthesis and degradation with anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial biogenesis effects. Phytomedicine, 130, 155747. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711324004069?via%3Dihub
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