Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Cucumis prophetarum L. Affect the Insulin Signaling Pathway in an In Vitro Model of Insulin-Resistant L6 Myotubes

TL;DR

This study shows that hydroalcoholic extracts from Cucumis prophetarum improve insulin sensitivity in muscle cells through multiple pathways, offering potential for diabetes treatment.

Contribution

The study reveals novel molecular mechanisms of hydroalcoholic Cucumis prophetarum extracts in improving insulin signaling, differing from previous decoction-based findings.

Findings

Stem and root extracts reduced lipid accumulation and enhanced insulin signaling in insulin-resistant muscle cells.

Leaf extract showed reduced cell viability at higher concentrations, while stem and root extracts were non-cytotoxic.

Stem extract activated the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, and root extract modulated the AMPK–mTOR pathway, both promoting GLUT4 translocation.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can be traditionally treated by edible and medicinal species rich in flavonoids and triterpenoids known for their metabolic benefits. Cucumis prophetarum L. has shown antioxidant and antidiabetic properties in decoction extracts. Since solvent polarity strongly influences the extraction of secondary metabolites, this study investigated the hydroalcoholic extracts of C. prophetarum L. to explore their chemical composition and insulin-sensitizing potential. Hydroalcoholic extracts from the leaf, stem, and root of C. prophetarum L. were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR, and UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF–MS/MS to profile their secondary metabolites. The insulin-sensitizing potential of each extract was assessed using an in vitro model of palmitic-acid-induced insulin resistance in L6 skeletal muscle cells, followed by Western blot analysis of key insulin-signaling proteins. Flavonoid glycosides such as apigenin-C,O-dihexoside, apigenin-malonylhexoside, and luteolin-C,O-dihexoside were abundant in leaf and stem extracts, while cucurbitacins predominated in the root. MTT assay confirmed that hydroalcoholic stem and root extracts of C. prophetarum L. were non-cytotoxic to L6 myotubes, whereas the leaf extract reduced viability only at higher concentrations. Oil Red O staining revealed a pronounced decrease in lipid accumulation following stem and root extract treatment. Consistently, the stem extract enhanced insulin signaling through the activation of the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, while the root extract primarily modulated the AMPK–mTOR pathway. Importantly, both extracts promoted GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane, highlighting their complementary mechanisms in restoring insulin sensitivity. Hydroalcoholic extracts of C. prophetarum L. alleviate insulin resistance through multiple molecular mechanisms, with bioactivity and composition differing markedly from previously reported in the decoctions, which highlight a promising source of insulin-sensitizing phytochemicals and underscore the importance of solvent selection in maximizing therapeutic potential.

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