Integrating Animal Experiments, Bioinformatics and Molecular Dynamics Stimulations to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Songyang Duanwu Tea Improving Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of various risk factors, including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and so on. Songyang Duanwu Tea (SYT) has a high value in nutrition and health care, and it is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for weight loss. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of SYT improving MetS remain to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular targets and potential mechanisms by which SYT may improve MetS based on animal experiments and bioinformatics.

Methods: MetS model mice were established by a high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt diet (HFSSD). Obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of MetS model mice were evaluated to assess the effect of SYT on the treatment effects of MetS. The bioactive components in SYT were identified by bioinformatics and verified by HPLC-QTOF-MS. The possible molecular targets and mechanisms of action were predicted and verified using bioinformatics.

Results: SYT (1.2 g/kg) ameliorated obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia and NAFLD in HFSSD-induced mice. Bioinformatics results suggested that the major bioactive components in SYT include the flavonoid components apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin, and the polyphenolic component eugenol. HPLC-QTOF-MS further validated the presence of apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin. These 4 bioactive components are involved in the regulation of SYT to improve MetS by regulating metabolism and attenuating inflammation, and the key targets include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1beta (IL1B) and interleukin 6 (IL6).

Conclusion: SYT effectively improved the MetS model mice induced by HFSSD. The potential mechanism may regulate PPARG and attenuate inflammatory targets: TNFα, IL1B and IL6 through 4 flavonoid components: apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin.