Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, and Hypolipidemic Effects of Puerarin In Vivo

Puerarin (PUE) exhibits various pharmacological effects. This study evaluated its antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects in vivo using models of aging, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. D-galactose-induced aging, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic, and high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mouse models were established. To evaluate the therapeutic effects, mice were administered various doses of PUE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Results showed that PUE treatment improved antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in aging mice, thereby mitigating cellular oxidative stress. In diabetic mice, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were observed to decrease, while hepatic hexokinase (HK) activity, pyruvate kinase (PK) activity, and insulin levels increased after 7 weeks of PUE treatment. Furthermore, PUE significantly enhanced blood lipid profiles and antioxidant enzyme properties in diabetic mice. In hyperlipidemic mice, PUE administration led to decreased levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). These findings indicate that PUE possesses antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties and shows potential for treating aging and related diseases like type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.