# Sea buckthorn flavonoids and their derivatives: potential natural compounds for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy

**Authors:** Quan Zhang, Jiahong Zhang, Yujie Ouyang, Hongyan Liu, Chunguang Xie, Xiaoxu Fu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1599756 · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2025-07-17

## TL;DR

Sea buckthorn flavonoids may help treat diabetic cardiomyopathy by reducing heart damage through multiple biological mechanisms.

## Contribution

The paper highlights sea buckthorn flavonoids as a novel natural compound for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy.

## Key findings

- Sea buckthorn flavonoids reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
- These compounds regulate autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function in heart cells.
- They also lower AGEs levels and reduce myocardial fibrosis.

## Abstract

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, characterized by high morbidity and disability rates, and can lead to heart failure. However, specific therapeutic agents for DCM are currently lacking. Natural compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine have demonstrated potential in alleviating DCM through multiple mechanisms. Sea buckthorn flavonoids and their derivatives represent a promising class of natural compounds for the treatment of DCM. These compounds have been shown to improve DCM by combating oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammatory responses, regulating epigenetic modifications, modulating autophagy and apoptosis, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, reducing advanced glycation end products (AGEs) level, and ameliorating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. This article provides a brief overview of the pharmacological effects of sea buckthorn flavonoids and their derivatives and systematically reviews their mechanisms in improving DCM. The aim is to promote the effective utilization of herbal medicine and provide insights and references for the development of novel therapeutics for DCM.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** heart failure (MONDO:0005252)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Becn1 (beclin 1) [NCBI Gene 114558] {aka Beclin1}, Gsr (glutathione-disulfide reductase) [NCBI Gene 116686], Casp3 (caspase 3) [NCBI Gene 25402] {aka CPP32-beta, Lice, Yama}, Ulk1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 360827], Casp12 (caspase 12) [NCBI Gene 156117], Atf6 (activating transcription factor 6) [NCBI Gene 304962], Pparg (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) [NCBI Gene 25664] {aka PPARgamma2}, HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1) [NCBI Gene 3162] {aka HMOX1D, HO-1, HSP32, bK286B10}, Il1a (interleukin 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 24493] {aka IL-1 alpha, IL-1F1}, Mfn1 (mitofusin 1) [NCBI Gene 67414] {aka 2310002F04Rik, 6330416C07Rik, D3Ertd265e, HR2, mKIAA4032}, Il1b (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 24494] {aka IL-1F2}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, Mcu (mitochondrial calcium uniporter) [NCBI Gene 294560] {aka Ccdc109a}, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) [NCBI Gene 6647] {aka ALS, ALS1, HEL-S-44, IPOA, SOD, STAHP}, Tnf (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 21926] {aka DIF, TNF-a, TNF-alpha, TNFSF2, TNFalpha, Tnfa}, Gpx1 (glutathione peroxidase 1) [NCBI Gene 24404] {aka GSHPx, GSHPx-1}, Micu1 (mitochondrial calcium uptake 1) [NCBI Gene 365567] {aka Cbara1}, Tmbim6 (transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 6) [NCBI Gene 24822] {aka Ab1-011, Ac1-149, Cc1-27, Tegt}, Icam1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 25464] {aka CD54, ICAM, RICAM-I}, Nqo1 (NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1) [NCBI Gene 24314] {aka Dia4}, Ppara (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 25747] {aka PPAR}, Cp (ceruloplasmin) [NCBI Gene 24268] {aka CERP}, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 309757] {aka Sir2}, Mfn2 (mitofusin 2) [NCBI Gene 170731] {aka D630023P19Rik, Fzo}, Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, Micu2 (mitochondrial calcium uptake 2) [NCBI Gene 171433] {aka Efha1, RGD1309934, Smhs2}, Src (SRC proto-oncogene, non-receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 83805], Akt1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 24185] {aka Akt}, Adgre1 (adhesion G protein-coupled receptor E1) [NCBI Gene 13733] {aka DD7A5-7, EGF-TM7, Emr1, F4/80, Gpf480, Ly71}, Xbp1 (X-box binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 289754] {aka HTF}, Agt (angiotensinogen) [NCBI Gene 24179] {aka ANRT, Ang, AngII, PAT}, Mlkl (mixed lineage kinase domain-like) [NCBI Gene 74568] {aka 9130019I15Rik}, Dapk2 (death-associated protein kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 13143], Khdrbs1 (KH RNA binding domain containing, signal transduction associated 1) [NCBI Gene 117268] {aka P62, Sam68}, Prkcb (protein kinase C, beta) [NCBI Gene 25023] {aka Pkcb, Prkcb1}, Mapk8 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 8) [NCBI Gene 116554] {aka JNK}, Prkca (protein kinase C, alpha) [NCBI Gene 24680] {aka Pkca}, Bax (BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator) [NCBI Gene 24887], Ripk3 (receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 3) [NCBI Gene 56532] {aka 2610528K09Rik, Rip3}, Atg13 (autophagy related 13) [NCBI Gene 362164] {aka Harbi1, Harbi1l, RGD1310685}, Igf1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) [NCBI Gene 24482] {aka IGF}, Prkaa2 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 78975] {aka Ampk, Ampka2}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, Pik3cg (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit gamma) [NCBI Gene 298947] {aka Pi3k}, Mir34a (microRNA 34a) [NCBI Gene 100314015] {aka rno-mir-34a}, Ripk3 (receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 3) [NCBI Gene 246240] {aka Hcyp2, Rip3}, Hpgds (hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase) [NCBI Gene 58962] {aka Ptgds2}, Atg7 (autophagy related 7) [NCBI Gene 312647] {aka Apg7l}, Nampt (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase) [NCBI Gene 297508] {aka Pbef, Pbef1}, Nlrp3 (NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 216799] {aka AGTAVPRL, AII/AVP, Cias1, FCAS, FCU, MWS}, Vcam1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 25361] {aka VCAM1B}, Abcc9 (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C member 9) [NCBI Gene 20928] {aka SUR2A, SUR2B, Sur2}, Tfam (transcription factor A, mitochondrial) [NCBI Gene 21780] {aka Hmgts, mtTFA, tsHMG}, PRKAA2 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 5563] {aka AMPK, AMPK2, AMPKa2, PRKAA}, Cyp2j3 (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily j, polypeptide 3) [NCBI Gene 313375] {aka Cyp2j9}, MIR30D (microRNA 30d) [NCBI Gene 407033] {aka MIRN30D, mir-30d}, Abcc8 (ATP-binding cassette, sub-family C member 8) [NCBI Gene 20927] {aka D930031B21Rik, SUR1, Sur}, Nox4 (NADPH oxidase 4) [NCBI Gene 50490], Nlrp3 (NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 287362] {aka Cias1}, Sirt3 (sirtuin 3) [NCBI Gene 293615]
- **Diseases:** cardiac (MESH:D006331), left ventricular hypertrophy (MESH:D017379), valvular disease (MESH:D006349), ventricular dysfunction (MESH:D018754), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), cardiac hypertrophy (MESH:D006332), peripheral vascular disease (MESH:D016491), inflammatory cytokines (MESH:D000080424), metabolic acidosis (MESH:D000138), metabolic syndrome (MESH:D024821), endotoxemia (MESH:D019446), cardiac remodeling (MESH:D020257), hyperglycemic (MESH:D006944), angina (MESH:D000787), ventricular hypertrophy (MESH:D024741), Cardiac interstitial fibrosis (MESH:D005355), hyperinsulinemia (MESH:D006946), metabolic abnormalities (MESH:D008659), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), cancer (MESH:D009369), EETs (MESH:D011015), central nervous system disorders (MESH:D002493), left ventricular dilation (MESH:C565277), glucose intolerance (MESH:D018149), congenital heart disease (MESH:D006330), AGEs (MESH:D003643), myocardial remodeling (MESH:D064752), coronary vascular congestion (MESH:D003323), diabetic complications (MESH:D048909), necrosis (MESH:D009336), DCM (MESH:D058065), cardiac insufficiency (MESH:D000309), hypercholesterolemic (MESH:D006938), liver diseases (MESH:D008107), liver and kidney toxicity (MESH:D056486), myocardial ischemia (MESH:D017202), hyperlipidemia (MESH:D006949), Cardiovascular diseases (MESH:D002318), burns (MESH:D002056), diabetic arterial injury (MESH:D003925), cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (MESH:D006984), cough (MESH:D003371), Hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), atrial fibrillation (MESH:D001281), estrogenic (MESH:D056828), arrhythmic (OMIM:212500), Diabetes (MESH:D003920), cardiomyopathies (MESH:D009202), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), vascular endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), hypertrophic (MESH:D002312), cardiac abnormalities (MESH:D018376), T2D (MESH:D003924), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), congestive heart failure (MESH:D006333), interstitial (MESH:D065167), mitochondrial damage (MESH:D028361), ischemia (MESH:D007511), myocardial structural damage (MESH:D020914)
- **Chemicals:** polysaccharides (MESH:D011134), sterols (MESH:D013261), TBARS (MESH:D017392), MDA (MESH:D008315), Luteolin (MESH:D047311), fatty acids (MESH:D005227), water (MESH:D014867), vitamin C (MESH:D001205), Procyanidin (MESH:C017674), AGEs (MESH:D017127), Apigenin (MESH:D047310), sulfonylureas (MESH:D013453), glycosides (MESH:D006027), amino acids (MESH:D000596), Quercetin (MESH:D011794), epigallocatechin (MESH:C057580), carotenoids (MESH:D002338), ROS (MESH:D017382), trace elements (MESH:D014131), lipid (MESH:D008055), LPS (MESH:D008070), Proanthocyanidins (MESH:D044945), dUTP (MESH:C027078), CO (MESH:D002248), lignans (MESH:D017705), GSSG (MESH:D019803), bilirubin (MESH:D001663), sucrose (MESH:D013395), butyrate (MESH:D002087), Myricetin (MESH:C040015), acetate (MESH:D000085), bile acid (MESH:D001647), aglycone (MESH:C458179), Rutin (MESH:D012431), triterpenes (MESH:D014315), NADPH (MESH:D009249), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), free radicals (MESH:D005609), Rapamycin (MESH:D020123), tannins (MESH:D013634), ATP (MESH:D000255), iron (MESH:D007501), calcium (MESH:D002118), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), glucose (MESH:D005947), NAD + (MESH:D009243), sugar (MESH:D000073893), homocysteine (MESH:D006710), potassium (MESH:D011188), Flavonoid (MESH:D005419), heme (MESH:D006418), SCFA (MESH:D005232), 14,15-EET (MESH:C046782), Naringenin (MESH:C005273), H2O2 (MESH:D006861), SB203580 (MESH:C093642), superoxide (MESH:D013481), STZ (MESH:D013311), 4-HNE (MESH:C027576), thapsigargin (MESH:D019284)
- **Species:** Gallus gallus (bantam, species) [taxon 9031], Clostridium butyricum (species) [taxon 1492], Crataegus (hawthorn, genus) [taxon 23159], Hippophae rhamnoides (sallowthorn, species) [taxon 193516], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Citrus x paradisi (grapefruit, species) [taxon 37656], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Faecalibacterium (genus) [taxon 216851], Bifidobacterium (genus) [taxon 1678], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Danio rerio (leopard danio, species) [taxon 7955]
- **Cell lines:** H9C2 — Rattus norvegicus (Rat), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_0286), HL-1 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0303), AC16 — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_HA69), HepG2 — Homo sapiens (Human), Hepatoblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0027)

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12310634/full.md

## References

196 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12310634/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12310634