Improvement in post-partum uterine involution in rats treated with Apios americana

Objective: Apios americana,a plant used as a staple ingredient of native American diets,has various properties,including anti-cancer,anti-hyperglycemic,hypotensive,and anti-inflammatory activity.In Japan,Apios is used as a post-natal medication.After parturition,women undergo a period of recovery as they return to pre-pregnancy conditions.However,few health products that aid post-partum recovery are on the market.We explored whether Apios can accelerate the post-partum recovery process,in particular the involution of the uterus.Methods: Female rats kept in individual cages were mated with two male rats,with the exception of the control group(female rats without mating,on basal diet;n=6).After delivery,rats were divided into five groups based on their diet: basal diet(model;n=6);basal diet+oral intake at 5.4 g/kg of Chanfukang granules(a Chinese patent medicine preparation for post-partum lochia)(positive;n=6);basal diet containing 10% Apios powder(low;n=6);basal diet containing 20% Apios powder(medium;n=6);basal diet containing 40% Apios powder(high;n=6).Five days later,uteri and spleens were weighed.Uterus and spleen indices for each rat were calculated by dividing visceral weight by the total weight.Hormone and cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Histological analysis of uteri was completed using hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining.Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and inhibitors in uteri was measured by western blotting.Results: Our results showed that Apios treatment reduced the post-partum uterus index and regulated the hormone concentrations.Moreover,we found that the process of uterine involution was accelerated,based on morphological changes in the uterus.In addition,our results indicated that Apios alleviated the inflammatory response induced by the involution process.Transforming growth factor β was also found to be regulated by Apios.There were significant downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and upregulation of their inhibitors by Apios,which suggested that Apios increased the rate of the collagen clearance process.Conclusions: These results,based on experimental observations at the molecular and protein levels,verified our hypothesis that Apios can improve uterine involution,and demonstrated the potential application of Apios in post-partum care.

Apios americana Medik flower extract protects high-glucose-treated hepatocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans

Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a chronic metabolic disease related to glucose metabolism disorders.Increasing evidences indicate that flavonoids obtained from plants have beneficial effects on T2D.Apios americana Medik,originally cultivated in North America,is rich in flavonoids.In this study,A.americana flower extract(AFE)was purified and flavonoids were identified.The beneficial effects of AFE on glucose metabolism disorders were investigated.Results showed that AFE protected hepatic cells from oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia and increased glucose consumption and glucose uptake.The AKT pathway was involved in AFE-mediated hypoglycemic action in LO2 cells,accompanied by phosphorylation of FoxO1,Gsk-3βand AMPK.In vivo,AFE protected Caenorhabditis elegans(C.elegans)from oxidative stress under hyperglycemia and restored the expressions of PMK-1 and SKN-1.Furthermore,AFE decreased excessive glucose and lipid accumulation and extended the lifespans of high glucose(HG)treated C.elegans.AFE might be beneficial to decrease glucose metabolism disorders and T2D.