Anti-central-fatigue effect of maca via mitochondrial biogenesis via the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway in rats
10.3969/j.issn.1671-7856.2025.07.004
- VernacularTitle:基于线粒体AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α通路研究玛咖改善大鼠中枢疲劳的作用机制
- Author:
Wenhuan YAO
1
;
Wen ZHOU
;
Yaxuan LI
;
Ziyao LI
;
Jing ZHANG
;
Shibo LYU
;
Hui LI
Author Information
1. 山东省疾病预防控制中心,济南 250014
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
maca;
central fatigue;
AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine
2025;35(7):36-43
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To examine the anti-central-fatigue function of maca and its underlying mechanism.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into a negative control group,model control group,and low-,medium-,and high-dose maca groups(0.6,1.2,and 2.4 g/kg·body weight).Rats in all groups except the negative control group were subjected to multi-factor stimulation,including cold-water swimming,sleep deprivation,restraining,and tail-clamping,to establish central fatigue rat models.Rats in the low-,medium-,and high-dose maca groups received 0.6,1.2,or 2.4 g/kg maca,respectively,by gavage for 35 days.Behavioral testing was carried out using the Morris water-maze,sucrose-preference,and tail-suspension tests.Markers of oxidative stress in the hippocampus,including superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),and catalase(CAT),were detected using test kits.Proteins connected with the AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/sirtuin 1(SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α(PGC-1α)signaling pathway in the hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Results Rats in the low-,medium-,and high-dose maca groups spent significantly more time in the target quadrant compared with the model control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),but there was no significant dose-effect relationship.Rats in the medium-and high-dose maca groups showed decreased escape latency(P<0.05),increased time crossing the platform location(P<0.05),increased sucrose preference(P<0.05),decreased tail suspension time(P<0.05),increased the activities of CAT(P<0.01)and SOD(P<0.05),and decreased MDA content(P<0.01).Rats in the low-,medium-,and high-dose maca groups also showed significantly increased protein expression levels of AMPK and nuclear respiratory factor 1(P<0.01 or P<0.05),but no significant dose-effect relationship was observed.Rats in the medium-and high-dose maca groups showed increased protein expression of PGC-1α(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and rats in the high-dose maca group showed increased protein expression of SIRT1 and mitochondrial transcription factor A(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions Maca can improve the indicators of central fatigue in rats,determined by behavioral testing and oxidative stress-related factors.The underlying mechanism may be related to its regulatory effects on the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.