Dietary Supplement with Tribulus terrestris L. Extract Exhibits Protective Effects on Ischemic Stroke Rats

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research 2023-12, Vol.67 (24), p.e2300447-n/a
• Main Authors: Guo, Wenjun, Yang, Jingxuan, Wang, Jifeng, Xu, Xiaohang, Huang, Jinghan, Liu, Yue, Xie, Shengxu, Xu, Yajuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain; Calcium ions; Cerebral blood flow; Diet; dietary supplement; Dietary supplements; Gene expression; gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris; Ischemia; ischemic stroke; mechanisms; Molecular biology; MyD88 protein; Occlusion; Saponins; Signal transduction; Stroke; Transcriptomics; Tribulus terrestris
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202300447

Scope Among herbal dietary supplements, the extract of Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) has been used as a commercially registered product in multiple studies. The previous studies demonstrate the protective effect of gross saponins of TT (GSTTF) on ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism by which GSTTF protects against ischemic stroke is still unclear. Methods and results The study applies molecular biology and unbiased transcriptomics to explore the pathways and targets underlying the therapeutic impact of GSTTF in treating ischemic stroke. The mRNA of brain tissues from different groups is analyzed using a transcriptomics method. The data reveal that treatment with GSTTF significantly reduces elevated CRP, IL‐6, and Ca2+ levels induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A total of 61 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are identified, GSTTF is found to effectively reverse the abnormal mRNA expression levels in rat brain tissues affected by ischemic stroke models. These positive effects of GSTTF are likely achieved through the suppression of calcium ion and the MyD88/IKK/NF‐κB signaling pathway. Conclusions This study uncovers the mechanisms behind the efficacy of GSTTF in treating ischemic stroke, which not only expands its potential medicinal applications but also confirmed its potential as a dietary supplement. Tribulus terrestris L was able to significantly reverse the abnormal gene expression in rat brain tissues caused by ischemic stroke models. This protective efficacy may be achieved via suppression of the calcium ion and MyD88/IKK/NF‐κB signaling pathway. This study provides the mechanisms by which GSTTF protects against ischemic stroke, which expands its medicinal application and confirms its potential to be developed as a dietary supplement.