Nutrients, Vol. 18, Pages 1390: Exploring the Therapeutic Effect of Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharides in Reversing D-Galactose (D-Gal)-Mediated Cardiac Aging
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu18091390
Authors:
Yaxian Wang
Limin Ouyang
Ximin Wu
Quan Tao
Yue Zhou
Binrui Yang
Lu Chen
Lu Zhang
Huali Wu
Doudou Huang
Liang Chen
Yiming Li
Background/Objectives: Cardiac aging is characterized by increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, leading to structural remodeling and functional decline. Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCPs), the principal active components derived from Polygonatum cyrtonema, exhibit well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite this, their protective role against cardiac aging and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective action of PCPs against D-galactose(D-gal)-induced cardiomyocyte senescence. Methods: In vitro, a cellular senescence model was established in H9c2 cardiomyocytes by D-gal induction to elucidate the effects of PCPs on senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction. In vivo, a mouse aging model was generated in C57BL/6J mice via continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-gal for three months to evaluate the ameliorative effects of PCPs on aging phenotypes and cardiac function. Results: PCPs enhanced the antioxidant capacity of cardiomyocytes, improved energy metabolism homeostasis, maintained mitochondrial integrity, thereby synergistically regulating key aging-related signaling pathways such as suppressing overactivation of the p53/p21 axis and downregulating the expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, thereby effectively mitigating myocardial injury and delaying cellular senescence. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the anti-cardiac aging effects of PCPs at both cellular and animal levels, confirming that they protect cardiomyocytes by antagonizing oxidative stress, suppressing the p53/p21 pathway, and improving mitochondrial function. These findings provide an experimental basis for developing PCPs as a naturally sourced intervention against cardiac aging.
Background/Objectives: Cardiac aging is characterized by increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, leading to structural remodeling and functional decline. Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCPs), the principal active components derived from Polygonatum cyrtonema, exhibit well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite this, their protective role against cardiac aging and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective action of PCPs against D-galactose(D-gal)-induced cardiomyocyte senescence. Methods: In vitro, a cellular senescence model was established in H9c2 cardiomyocytes by D-gal induction to elucidate the effects of PCPs on senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction. In vivo, a mouse aging model was generated in C57BL/6J mice via continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-gal for three months to evaluate the ameliorative effects of PCPs on aging phenotypes and cardiac function. Results: PCPs enhanced the antioxidant capacity of cardiomyocytes, improved energy metabolism homeostasis, maintained mitochondrial integrity, thereby synergistically regulating key aging-related signaling pathways such as suppressing overactivation of the p53/p21 axis and downregulating the expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, thereby effectively mitigating myocardial injury and delaying cellular senescence. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the anti-cardiac aging effects of PCPs at both cellular and animal levels, confirming that they protect cardiomyocytes by antagonizing oxidative stress, suppressing the p53/p21 pathway, and improving mitochondrial function. These findings provide an experimental basis for developing PCPs as a naturally sourced intervention against cardiac aging. Read More