Anti-hyperglycemic effect of loquat leaf extract is associated with the redistribution of glucose carbon to its metabolites: a 13C-tracing study in HepG2 cells

Abstract

Loquat leaf extract (LLE) is commonly used in China for a variety of ailments including diabetes. Several recent reports implicate LLE and a sesquiterpene glycoside, one of its components, as being an anti-hyperglycemic agent. However, the underlying mechanism of action of this anti-hyperglycemic agent has not been reported. We have conducted a tracer-based metabolomics study to investigate the effects of sesquiterpene and loquat extract on the balance of flux of central glucose metabolism in HepG2 cells and to compare with those of “insulin sensitizers”, metformin and rosiglitazone. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells in confluence culture were incubated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing 50% [1, 2 13C2]-glucose in the presence of rosiglitazone, metformin, LLE or pure sesquiterpene. Cells were harvested in 48 h. Mass isotopomers of metabolites (glycogen, ribose, deoxyribose, glutamate and palmitate) were determined. 13C labeling in metabolic intermediates were summarized in a mass isotopomer matrix. Treatment with loquat extract/sesquiterpene, metformin and rosiglitazone each produced distinctive mass isotopomer patterns reflecting disparate effects on the contribution of glucose to various metabolites production, and on several metabolic flux ratios. The overall effect of LLE and sesquiterpene on glucose metabolism is clearly different from those of the known “insulin sensitizers”. Our study demonstrates the utility of isotopomer matrix in summarizing metabolic actions of LLE on the balance of fluxes occurring within the central glucose metabolism in HepG2 cells. 13C carbon tracing (tracer-based metabolomics) is a useful systems biology tool to elucidate glucose metabolic pathways affected by diabetes and its treatment.