Antioxidant-Mediated Protective Effect of a Formulated Extract of Cirsium setidens Nakai and Chamaecrista nomame (Siebold) H. Ohashi in a Palmitate-Induced Muscle Atrophy Model; [팔미트산 유도 근위축 모델에서 곤드레 차풀 복합 추출물의 항산화 기반 근세포 보호 효과]

초록

Sarcopenic obesity, defined by reduced muscle mass and increased adiposity, is strongly associated with impaired function, metabolic dysregulation, and morbidity. Excessive accumulation of saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid (PA) promotes muscle atrophy via oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and proteolytic activation. Plant-derived antioxidants are considered promising candidates to counteract muscle decline. Cirsium setidens Nakai and Chamaecrista nomame (Siebold) H. Ohashi, traditionally used in Korea as edible and medicinal resources, are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, with antioxidant potential. However, evidence regarding synergistic effects is limited. This study aimed to establish the optimal extraction conditions for the combined extract, assess antioxidant activities, and evaluate protective effects against PA-induced atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. Antioxidant capacity, measured by ABTS, ferric FRAP assays, and total phenolic content, was maximized under 70°C, 40% ethanol, and 2 h, with the 50:50 mixture showing the greatest activity. In the PA-treated myotubes, cell viability, myotube diameter, and fusion index were reduced alongside activation of proteolytic signaling. Treatment with each individual extract partially reversed these changes, whereas the combined extract was superior in restoring cell viability, promoting myotube formation, and modulating protein expression. Specifically, the mixture upregulated silent information regulator sirtuin 1 and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR)/mTOR while downregulating Forkhead box O3a, thereby enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, stimulating protein synthesis, and suppressing degradation. These findings suggest that the combined extract exerts synergistic antioxidant and myoprotective effects, thus supporting their potential as functional food ingredients for preventing sarcopenic obesity and metabolic disorders. © 2025 The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)

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