Unraveling the mechanisms of fermented chicory root in alleviating hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus: based on in vivo experiments and network pharmacological study

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a plant that has a dual function as both a foodstuff and a medicinal agent. The substance has been demonstrated to possess a number of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potentially anti-cancer properties. However, the precise mechanism through which it exerts its action in improving blood sugar levels remains to be fully elucidated. The present study has been conducted for the purpose of investigating the effect of Fermented Chicory Root (FCR) on hyperglycemia in leptin-deficient db./db mice, and of revealing its potential mechanism of action through network pharmacology and experimental validation. The results demonstrate that the ingestion of fermented chicory roots can lead to a substantial reduction in fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and insulin resistance levels, while concomitantly attenuating the inflammatory response of insulin target organs. However, the unfermented group did not demonstrate any improvement in the indicators under review. The active ingredients, targets and pathways are mined in a single step by means of network pharmacology. The mechanism of action of this agent may involve multiple active ingredients, including phenols, coumarins and fatty acid compounds. These ingredients achieve comprehensive regulation of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and inflammatory response by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The qRT-PCR detection results of epididymal adipose tissue indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was activated, thus confirming the results of network pharmacology. This study combines in vivo experiments with network pharmacology to provide a new theoretical basis for analyzing the pharmacological effects of chicory roots.