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Pharmacological Action of Baicalin on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Animals Induced by Streptozotocin via AGE-RAGE Signaling Pathway

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Abstract

Objective

Baicalin (BC) is a flavonoid reported to have various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, immune regulation, and anti-diabetic. This study examines the probable mechanism for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) brought on by streptozotocin (STZ) and the impact of BC on fetal development via AGEs (advanced serum glycation end products) and RAGE (the role of advanced glycation end products).

Material and Method

STZ has been used in the current experimental study to induce diabetes mellitus in pregnant animals (gestational diabetes mellitus). GDM pregnant animals were separated into five groups and were treated with BC in a dose-dependent pattern for 19 days. At the end of the experiment, the fetus and blood samples were drawn from all the pregnant rats to assess the biochemical parameter as well as AGE-RAGE.

Result

Administration of BC at varying doses leads to enhancement in the weight of the fetus body and placenta while gestational diabetic pregnant animals induced by STZ had a lower weight of the fetus body and placenta. The dose-dependent pattern of BC also enhanced fasting insulin (FINS), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), serum insulin, and hepatic glycogen. It also significantly enhanced the content of the antioxidant profile and pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulated the gene expression (VCAM- 1, p65, EGFR, MCP-1, 1NOX2, and RAGE) in various tissues in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnant rats.

Conclusion

Baicalin demonstrated the potential impact on the embryo’s development via the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in STZ-induced GDM pregnant animals.

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Data Availability

All data is available.

Abbreviations

BC :

Baicalin

STZ :

Streptozotocin

T2DM :

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

GDM :

Gestational diabetes mellitus

SOD :

Superdioxide mutase

CAT :

Catalase

RT-PCR :

Real-time polymerase chain reaction

GPx :

Glutathione peroxidase

GST :

Glutathione S-transferase

AGE :

Advanced glycation end products

RAGE :

Receptor for advanced glycation end products

NC :

Normal control

PC :

Positive control

ROS :

Reactive oxygen species

LPO :

Lipid peroxidation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhucheng Maternal and Child Health Center, No. 343 Dongguan Street, Zhucheng, Weifang, Shandong, 262200, People’s Republic of China

    Shuqiong Qiu

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The West District of Qingdao Municipal Hospital (Group), No. 2, Chaocheng Road, 266001, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaojie Wu

  3. Anser Science Joint Laboratory Platform, Jinan, 250000, People’s Republic of China

    Qingke Wu & Xin Jin

  4. Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Shandong University, Tianqiao District, No.11 Wuyingshan Middle, RoadShandong Province, Jinan, 250031, People’s Republic of China

    Huirong Li

  5. SHRM Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata, India

    Rupak Roy

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  2. Xiaojie Wu
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  3. Qingke Wu
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  4. Xin Jin
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  5. Huirong Li
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Contributions

SQ, XW, and QW: data curation, formal analysis, writing original data, review, and editing; XJ, RR, and XL: formal analysis, conceptualization, project administration, investigation, and methodology. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Huirong Li.

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Practical Application

It is well known that the prevalence of gestational diabetes is rising globally. Baicalin is traditional Chinese medicine and is used in diabetes management. The present study describes the potential effect of baicalin on gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant animals via an underlying probable mechanism. The result also supported the efficacy of BC in GDM rats in a dose-dependent manner via improving biochemical analysis, inflammation and oxidative stress, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. We can conclude from the findings that baicalin may be a protective medication for the management of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Statement of Novelty

Our results suggest the efficacy of baicalin in gestational diabetes mellitus rats. It increases the weight of the fetus’s body and placenta. It also elevates the level of lipid profile, serum, and glycogen in a dose-dependent manner. It was also found effective in increasing the antioxidant parameter and inflammatory profile and attenuating the gene expression via AGE and RAGE signaling pathways. It can be used in clinical trials and lead to technology transfer for the welfare of the society in the management of diabetes mellitus.

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Qiu, S., Wu, X., Wu, Q. et al. Pharmacological Action of Baicalin on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Animals Induced by Streptozotocin via AGE-RAGE Signaling Pathway. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 196, 1636–1651 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04586-8

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